Cheer Culminates Season at NAIA Southwest Qualifying Championships in OKC
February 25, 2019
Goodwell, Okla. Panhandle State Cheer culminated by their season this past weekend at the NAIA Southwest Qualifying Group Cheerleading and Dance Championships at Oklahoma City University. On Saturday (Feb. 23) the team hit the mats to compete against nine schools in cheers, tumbling, stunts and a dance portion, and placed 9th overall, ahead of Friends (Kan.) with a combined score of 56.29.
Aggie Cheer entered into the preliminaries ranked 7th overall and with zero deductions, an impressive feat. Even more notable is the fact that this marks the inaugural year for Panhandle Cheer as an official competitive sport.
Head Coach Alyssa Freeman is supremely proud of her team and their progression from the commencement of the season in March to their regional appearance at the championships. Freeman reflected, "Overcoming so much diversity and going through challenges made my team strong and I think we showed that at Regionals; no matter what we finished as strong as we started." She continued, "We had practice the night before on Friday and we left it all on the mat, it encouraged us to perform like it was our last time regardless of whether or not it was. On Saturday, we had no drops in any stunts, we were solid all the way through. We grew as a unit over time and even through changes, the team came together to perform as one especially when it was needed most." The team scored high, as has been recurrent in their previous tournament outings, in overall impression and appearance, as well as received high marks in tumbling and dance choreography.
Freeman commented how much the captains of the team stepped up, as seniors Jesse Rocha-Groves and Jordan Whitfield and junior Hannah Johnson developed into strong leaders and mentors for the rest of the team. Many of the athletes who had never cheered before, including OPSU football's Quatro Luna, Miquel Hudson, George Dominguez and Warren Dillon, were participating to their fullest extent throughout their tournament performances this year, even competing in the championshipwith round-offs and perfectly connected back-tucks. Freshman Lexia Carney had cheered in high school prior to her enrollment at Panhandle State, but had never flown before, and she had become the team's leading flyer by the end of the season. "Everyone really adjusted in a timely manner," said Freeman, "Everyone plays a role on the team and everyone played a role in the routine."
Both coach and team were elated to see University President Dr. Tim Faltyn arrive to witness their regional performance in Oklahoma City, as Freeman noted it gave a noticeable boost to the team's confidence and outlook heading in against tough competition.
Freeman hopes to grow the team next year and add more co-ed stunts and raise the difficulty level in their pyramids and stunts. She commented, "This team this year has really set the bar high going forward; in tumbling stunt requirements, in their dancing and their energy, the standard has definitely been set."
Aggie Cheer entered into the preliminaries ranked 7th overall and with zero deductions, an impressive feat. Even more notable is the fact that this marks the inaugural year for Panhandle Cheer as an official competitive sport.
Head Coach Alyssa Freeman is supremely proud of her team and their progression from the commencement of the season in March to their regional appearance at the championships. Freeman reflected, "Overcoming so much diversity and going through challenges made my team strong and I think we showed that at Regionals; no matter what we finished as strong as we started." She continued, "We had practice the night before on Friday and we left it all on the mat, it encouraged us to perform like it was our last time regardless of whether or not it was. On Saturday, we had no drops in any stunts, we were solid all the way through. We grew as a unit over time and even through changes, the team came together to perform as one especially when it was needed most." The team scored high, as has been recurrent in their previous tournament outings, in overall impression and appearance, as well as received high marks in tumbling and dance choreography.
Freeman commented how much the captains of the team stepped up, as seniors Jesse Rocha-Groves and Jordan Whitfield and junior Hannah Johnson developed into strong leaders and mentors for the rest of the team. Many of the athletes who had never cheered before, including OPSU football's Quatro Luna, Miquel Hudson, George Dominguez and Warren Dillon, were participating to their fullest extent throughout their tournament performances this year, even competing in the championshipwith round-offs and perfectly connected back-tucks. Freshman Lexia Carney had cheered in high school prior to her enrollment at Panhandle State, but had never flown before, and she had become the team's leading flyer by the end of the season. "Everyone really adjusted in a timely manner," said Freeman, "Everyone plays a role on the team and everyone played a role in the routine."
Both coach and team were elated to see University President Dr. Tim Faltyn arrive to witness their regional performance in Oklahoma City, as Freeman noted it gave a noticeable boost to the team's confidence and outlook heading in against tough competition.
Freeman hopes to grow the team next year and add more co-ed stunts and raise the difficulty level in their pyramids and stunts. She commented, "This team this year has really set the bar high going forward; in tumbling stunt requirements, in their dancing and their energy, the standard has definitely been set."
