It’s a dream years in the making for an elite group of athletes from Long Beach High School: the chance to compete on a national stage against the best of the best in their sport.
And from Feb. 7-10, the LBHS Bearcat Cheerleaders will head to Orlando for the National High School Cheerleading Championship. Coach Brandy Zink says the last time Long Beach earned a spot in the event was 2018.
“There is a whole process to getting a bid, a process which requires time, talent and money,” she explains. “Teams usually have to decide between putting their time and energy into Friday night games, pep rallies and community events or putting it into competition practices, etc. Our team decided a long time ago to do both. I believe the determination is excel in both areas makes our athletes special. They are mentally and physically tough.”
‘WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS A LONG TIME’
Fifteen athletes and two alternates will represent Long Beach at the match, which will be held at Walt Disney World Resort. The squad has been practicing since last April, says Brooke Daniels, a senior and team captain, and members even visited a National Cheerleaders Association camp in Louisiana, where they learned new skills and transitions to incorporate into their routine.
During football season, Daniels adds, the team practiced both during the school day’s fourth block and after school. When football season ended, they still rehearsed for completion during fourth block and some days after school.
“We have been preparing for this for a long time,” she says, “and I hope all of the hard work pays off for us.”
The competition is bittersweet for Daniels, as it will be her last time taking the mat with her closest friends. Orlando also will be the final performance for senior and captain Rylie Pepper.
“I am looking forward to the ability to bond with this team for the last time,” Pepper says. “I think this opportunity will allow our team to grow closer….”
Cheerleading has been a lifelong passion for senior Jaden LaCour, which started with self-taught flipping and tumbling. He joined the squad because it looked like fun, and in Orlando, he’s eager to reap the rewards of his hard work.
“Now, my goal is to leave everything on the mat and show what we’ve been putting together during this amazing season,” he says.
DEDICATED AND THANKFUL
Approximately 1,190 squads competed in the championship last year, and as the Bearcats get ready to take on teams from across the country, they remain grounded in gratitude.
“I want to thank every person and business that has supported and donated to us this season,” Daniels says. “The Long Beach community is the best, and we seriously couldn’t do it without y’all.”
Asher Gates, a third-year cheerleader, also expressed thanks for such a rare opportunity.
“Personally, my goals are to perform my best, prove myself to my team and to have fun while doing it all!” she says. “We are beyond grateful just to be invited to nationals, and this is such a blessing!”
Cheer has been a huge part of senior Stella Jackson’s life for four years, and she intends to apply everything she’s learned and deliver her best performance yet in Orlando. Attending nationals feels like the perfect way to end her cheer career.
“Not many teams get this opportunity,” Jackson says, “and I’m so grateful to share this final ride with what I truly consider a dream team.”
