By Catherine La Rouche
Every sport has one special goal each year. For the NFL, it’s the Super Bowl. For college basketball, it’s the NCAA Championship game. For the University of Louisville Cheerleaders and Ladybirds, the National Cheer and Dance Association Collegiate Competition is that goal.
The Louisville spirit groups are known for dominating the NCA and NDA competitions in recent years. Last year, U of L’s all-girl, small co-ed and large co-ed cheerleading squads all left Daytona with a National Championship, while the Ladybirds were only .12 points away from another title, finishing as runner-up. The spirit groups plan on dominating again this year.
“It’s always a big deal when U of L goes to nationals,” Head Coach Misty Hodges said. “The teams just need to go down and hit the routine. As a coach, we like it when they do their best. When everyone is smiling and laughing, that makes a good end to the year.”
For the Ladybirds, they hope to improve upon their second-place finish from last year.
“We don’t feel a lot of pressure, because our coach keeps us very grounded in terms of our goals and abilities,” senior Ladybird co-captain Brittany Schermer said. “Last year was very difficult being the runners-up, but it has given us extra fuel to try to bring back the title this year. The Ladybirds have such a phenomenal history of excellence, every year at nationals other teams look up to us to see what we are going to do, and that is an awesome feeling.”
The spirit groups are confident about nationals this year as well. Most of their confidence comes from the result of their intense practices. The cheerleaders practice about three to four hours every day, while the Ladybirds practice at least three hours a day and take technique classes once a week to polish up on their ballet and jazz technique.
“All the practicing and ballet class has really helped improve our technique,” junior Ladybird Lane Hibbard said. “Our practices consist of stretching, going across the floor doing our technical skills, polishing our routine, and working on stamina.”
Although practices are intense, they’ve come a little easier because of the skill level of each athlete on the cheerleading squads.
“We have so much more talent this year that it has been so hard to decide the nationals squad,” junior large co-ed cheerleader Brandon Gwynn said. “With so many talented people it’s hard to select just 20 to put on the mat to represent Louisville.”
Determining who competes at nationals has been harder on the coaches due to the talent. The first priority is for the team to make a routine and learn it. However, if they learn it, that doesn’t mean they get to compete. The veterans get first priority and the rest of the nationals squad is determined by skills and academic standing. If someone falls below their required grade point average, they don’t get the opportunity of representing Louisville at nationals.
Even though not all the cheerleaders get to compete, all the athletes in the spirit groups are very supportive of each other.
“Our team is extremely close, because we see so much of each other,” Schermer said. “We really are each others’ best friends. You are only as strong as your weakest link. Everyone is a true asset to our team so it is important that we get along inside and outside of practice.”
The spirit groups hope their closeness within the teams will help win another national championship.
“A win is important to keep Louisville’s reputation and to show that new people have the ability to step up and keep leading the team on to title after title,” Gwynn said.
After ending last year as runner-up, a win would mean plenty to the Ladybirds.
“To go out as a senior with a national title would be an amazing accomplishment,” Schermer said. “This is what our team works so hard for all year. The time, the energy, and the effort that goes into a routine every year can only seem worth it if you bring home the title, which we intend on doing!”
Although the teams are well prepared, they are not overlooking their opponents.
“There are a lot of good teams in our division this year and some are pretty good,” junior all-girl cheerleader Ashley Beckett said. “We have to be mentally and physically prepared to go out and perform a winning routine.”
Brigham Young University, Rutgers and Southern California are always tough competition for the Ladybirds.
“I think Rutgers and BYU will be stiff competition this year,” Hibbard said.
The Ladybirds haven’t left Kentucky yet and already have begun the competition process. In December, they submitted a video tape for the Preliminary rankings and placed first. However, the ranking is erased at the start of the preliminary. The spirit teams will compete in the prelims this Thursday, April 6, where they will perform in front of the judges and will be given a score. The score determines the finals the next day. The team with the best score after prelims performs last on Friday morning for finals. During finals, the scores are erased from prelims and a new set of judges score to determine the National Champion.
“I’m looking forward to the rush that comes from that final performance,” Hibbard said. “When you walk off that stage and feel that not only you did you best, but your teammates did the same, the feeling is incredible. It’s like you couldn’t ask for more.”
