Taylor Alexander
The Cheerleading Worlds
Something that is as intense as the Olympics, something that you work your whole life for, something that makes your blood boil with nerves. So loud in the arena you can barely hear yourself think. Training all year for this 3 minute and thirty second routine. Spray tans, glitter, bows and fake eyelashes. Every seat in the arena filled, and with your coaches you are coming together as not even a team, but a family. Hosted in Orlando, Florida; this is The Cheerleading Worlds.
Cheerleaders walking into the arena, hearing screams, watching the cheerleaders already performing just feeling the nerves that they have. The excitement buzzes in the air once a new team steps on the mat to perform. The moment you walk into the arena (not even to perform) just makes nothing else matter and you’re full of emotions. This is when you actually realize this is the place where you show everything you got and what you worked all year for this one competition. From scoping around the main worlds arena, you see ESPN cameras all over taping the cheerleader’s performance, which will soon be taping you out there. You see six packs on six year olds, bodies that are more ripped than a wrestler, and half the cheerleader’s hair is bigger than your mom’s hair from the 80’s. Walking into all of this with you, your team, and your coaches is just an unforgettable experience and feeling.
The coaches of a team that won a bid in order to compete in this international event are almost as nervous yet thrilled as the kids. You look around at all the kids you have spent most of your time on, and realize this is the last moment for them to prove to you and the crowd and even to themselves, that this is what they have always worked for. All season training them to be the best they can possibly be. Conditioning them like they’re in boot camp, is all worth it in the end. Stretching the fliers on the team to be close to as flexible as a contortionist. Being...