Cheer Competition

Karissa got to compete this year for the Steelers cheer competition. I got to see the parent showcase the Wednesday before, but unfortunately, I was on my weekend getaway the day of the actual competition. I was really upset at first at the poor timing. I had planned my trip late, which meant we found out the date for competition even later. In the end, it was all for the best. Karissa got a ride with Olivia, since it was an all day thing for her, and Jason was able to take the boys to their last day of soccer and then meet up with the Steelers later in time to watch their performance.

 After watching the parent showcase, I decided it was better for me not to be there at the competition. Having been a flyer myself, I get really anxious for Karissa when she stunts, especially since this is her first year with "real" stunting. There's so much involved in a stunt and at least four people working together to make it happen. It doesn't matter how many times you "stick" it at practice, if you get a little nervous in the big moment, it could mean the entire stunt is messed up. Being the flyer, you do get more of the "glory" because it's your face everyone sees, but you also feel the worst when a stunt doesn't go up. That's not to say the flyer is the most important, because they're not. The bases and the spotters are even more important.

That said, she did fantastic at the parent showcase and the competition. She nailed all her stunts at the showcase, but didn't look as polished. At competition, she looked very polished (they all did!), but missed one stunt. Jason commented on how even though she missed one, it didn't even phase her. She just kept her great smile on and kept going. The team took 3rd place for round one. That was the cheer round. They took 4th for round two, the dance/stunt round, so they didn't medal for that one. I thought they looked great in both and am very proud of their efforts. Go Steelers!

(Here's the video from competition. In round 1, she's the shortie on the middle towards the right. In round 2, she starts on the X in the middle and is the flyer on the far left.)