Cheerleaders place eighth in national competition

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Slide Show By Holland Powell, Photos courtesy Wesley Kluck

In their first year as a competitive squad, the Ouachita cheerleaders placed eighth in the nation.

The squad began this year with former Arkansas Razorback cheer coach Brian Bridges as their new head coach. Last weekend, Jan. 16-18, the squad traveled 16 hours to Disney World, in Orlando, Fla., to compete in the College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship.

“This is the official national cheerleading championship sponsored by the NCAA,” Bridges said. “It is the most premiere competition in all of the U.S.”

Bridges prepared the squad’s routine for the competition.

 “We have a very challenging routine that utilizes our skills in the best ways possible,” Bridges said. “We have some great tumbling, stunts, pyramids and basket tosses in the routine. It is very high energy and packed full of complex tricks. We chose a classic rock theme for our music, ending with a school favorite, ‘Eye Of the Tiger.’”

With such a challenging routine, the cheer squad put in lots of effort. “Everything in our routine was difficult for us at first,” Melissa Collier said, “but the more we practice, the more we perfect it.”

The cheerleaders were able to play a part in choosing the music for the routine.

“Brian sent out a mass text message to the squad telling us to text him our favorite classic rock song,” Leah Harrington said. “Then he gave that list to the person who mixed it, choosing from our favorite songs.”

The squad represented not only Ouachita in the competition, but also the state of Arkansas.

“Getting to perform in college nationals is such a huge honor and being the only university from Arkansas makes it even more [so],” Molly Johnson said. “We [got] to see and compete with some of the greatest programs in the nation.”

Days before the competition, there was much anticipation among the squad.

“You build up all this anticipation as you take you squad pictures and go through warm up,” Harrington said. “And every good and bad thought about the routine and what could happen is running through your head. I love it.”

More than 200 squads were represented at the national competition, and in their first year as a competitive squad, Ouachita’s cheerleaders made it from semifinals to finals, placing eighth in their category, small co-ed squads.

“I am so proud of my squad,” said captain Stephanie Glen. “We are so thankful for our coach and his encouragement along the way. This is a big change for Ouachita cheerleading, but it’s definitely good for the program.”