St. Jude: Varsity is teaming up again with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to support its lifesaving mission of finding cures for children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases. We are asking each team member to help spread the word about this great cause by sending five letters to friends and family and asking them to make a donation – that’s it!

Throughout the year, St. Jude will provide updates on how much money each team’s letters raised and we’ll post it on Varsity.com. The top fundraising teams from across the country will be eligible for the Grand Prize with a trip to Memphis for a select number of members from their team to visit St. Jude.

Visit varsity.com/stjude for details!

Cheer for a Healthier America: This new program, which is designed to get kids involved in aerobic activities and teach them about making healthy choices, will be implemented at more than 1,000 camps across America, and taught by over 4,000 instructors this summer. Our goal is to get as many cheerleaders, dancers and other sports teams involved with their community to help raise awareness of the importance of daily physical activity and be good role models for our youth across the country.

If you want to get involved, you will receive a Start Up Guide with everything you need!

The Start Up Guide includes:

• Sample letters to present your school’s administrators and the administrators for the participating elementary schools
•  Flyers to help you promote and advertise your program
• Lesson Plans for you to implement Cheer for a Healthier America
• An online tracker for you to log your results and share your successes!

Help us Cheer for a Healthier America!

National School Spirit Day is quickly approaching and Varsity wants YOU to participate by kicking off the day with a pep rally on Friday, October 11. Use this pep rally as a way to announce your school service project and invite your student body to participate. Once you have complete your hours, log on to www.NationalSchoolSpiritDay.org to log your hours and enter to win prizes!

1. Individual/Team Prizes: 250 Rooter poms, 150 sets of Thunderstix, 100 sets of Spirit Fingerz and Custom “U-Build-It” tee for each team member from Varsity Spirit Fashion.
2. School: $1000 School Spirit Scholarship for the school principal to award to a student demonstrating outstanding school spirit and a digital camera for the Yearbook Staff, all from Herff Jones.

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Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a genetic bone disorder also known as “brittle bone” disease. People are born with this disease and as you can imagine, they are affected throughout their life. Weak muscles and fractures are just a small part of the disease, which is so hard for an active person like me to think about.

In order to raise awareness for this disease, the University of Alabama cheerleaders celebrated “Wishbone Day” by having a Yellow practice and inviting affected children and their families to join! The first yellow practice was held last year and it’s a tradition that the UA cheerleaders hope to continue for many years to come.

By simply wearing yellow, it prompts many people to ask “why?” Being able to answer these questions and tell people more about OI is exactly what the Alabama cheerleaders were hoping for. Just like wearing pink during October for Breast Cancer Awareness month, changing up your wardrobe for a game or practice is a fun and easy way to raise awareness for a cause close to your heart. It gives the cheerleaders another chance to be seen as ambassadors and true leaders in the community.

America Needs Cheerleaders to stand up in their community and lead by example. National School Spirit Day is coming up in October, so use this summer to brainstorm with your team and come up with a great way to give back! Visit www.NationalSchoolSpiritDay.org for more information on how you can get involved and www.OIF.org to learn more about OI.

by Ryan Martin

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Even though she was a senior, Nicole helped make my first year at Clemson one of the best years of my life! This is us after her final basketball game senior year.

It’s important for returners to make the new squad members feel comfortable from the beginning. I remember how nervous I was my first year on the Varsity cheerleading squad at my high school. I was cheering with the girls I looked up to as a freshman, so of course just going to practice made me nervous. They took me under their wing and helped me become the person I am today. If you are a returner, pick a new squad member or two, and make it your job to help them have the best year ever.  Let them know you are there for them, and if they have any questions they can always ask you. A little can go a long way in this situation!

If you are new to a team, don’t be afraid to talk to others! After I transferred to Clemson University, I tried out for cheer and didn’t know ANYONE! I made a point to talk to everyone after making the team, and the veterans made my experience great. Whether it was going out to lunch, or telling me where a classroom was, the returners made my first year cheering at a new school great. Be yourself-these are the people you will spend most of your time with. The returners are just as excited for you to be on the team as you are.

Good luck on the new season! You’ll be more than a team-you’ll become a family.

-Tayler Easton

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It feels like it was just yesterday –I was waiting outside the red brick middle school building, seated on a bright blue park bench.  It had been hours since my middle school tryout had ended and an anxious group of girls hovered outside the glass doors where the results were promised to be posted.  Some cartwheeled around and chatted, while others watched nervously from their seats. And like magic, a white sheet of paper had appeared out of nowhere with the results of the tryout.  Screams and cheers were soon to follow – announcing the success of the girls in front of me.  I made my way through the crowd to see the results for myself. I scanned the list over and over again, expecting to see my name.  It wasn’t there.

Looking back I remember climbing into bed that night feeling defeated. But that didn’t last long – Waking up the next morning I felt a new sense of motivation and had already began making a list of goals to accomplish over the next few months. Although I had not been entirely successful in my first attempt, I was surely going to do everything in my power to achieve my goal the next time!  I enrolled in gymnastics classes and cheer classes, cartwheeling and jumping everywhere I went.  I even stretched in front of the TV and tumbled in the front yard every night until dinner. I was not going to give up!

A year later I found myself sitting outside a new brick building on a park bench, but this time I was waiting for the results of my high school cheerleading tryout.

Calm and collected I already felt a sense of accomplishment. Just knowing that I had worked hard and gained the confidence to tryout again was fulfilling.  In the back of my mind could feel the nerves creeping up on me as the list was posted. Walking up to the door I could feel my heart beat in my head. I rapidly scanned the list for my name.  Again, it wasn’t there. It felt like I was caught in a bad episode of déjà vu, until someone ran up behind me and gave me a big squeeze. “CONGRATULATIONS,” chirped my best friend. With confusion etched across my face I turned to face her. “You made it!” She pulled me to the second list that had been posted. Sure enough, I scanned the list for my name and found it carefully written at the bottom.  A huge smile spread across my face as I studied the list more closely. I had made the Varsity Team as a Freshman.

I think back to that day a lot. What if I had given up? What if I had decided that I wasn’t good enough after just one try?  I wouldn’t be where I am today – working for the National Cheerleaders Association and enjoying my passion for cheerleading.  Sometimes the going gets tough and we don’t always make it our first try. Those are the times we need to get back up and try again until we succeed. No matter how many hours I spent practicing my cartwheels in the front yard or sleepovers I missed while I was at gymnastics, I would do it all over again – the Work is Worth it. 

by Jessica Green 

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Many cheerleaders go through similar changes whether it is for a routine or game-day. Lots of times people make the team as a flyer and get moved to a base or base to back spot, etc. And while it may seem stressful when a coach tries to swap your position, it is important to remain positive. Just because your job in the stunt or routine may change, it does not mean that you should take offense. Coaches know what is best and can see what combinations will work well with the team. Staying positive and working hard will not only help you through this transition, but will also help you gain respect from your coach and squad.

With that being said, do not be afraid to ask your coach for help if you have been placed in a position you have never done. It is important that you gain confidence in your new spot and your coach will want to assist you with that. Your teammates are another great resource for tips and advice. Through accepting their help, learning new skills and parts will not only help your team at the time, but will also help you to be a more well-rounded cheerleader.

Aside from increasing your cheerleading knowledge, becoming easily adaptable to change will be a great asset to you in other areas of life. Change is constantly happening, and the more accepting and positive you are about it, the more successful you will be. In the words of my dad, “life is what you make it,” meaning that your attitude toward events can determine how they turn out.  This philosophy of handling change positively in cheerleading will also prepare you for professional opportunities. When you get a job, your boss will be the equivalent of your coach and there is a great chance that he or she could ask you to do a task with which you are not familiar.  Through your experiences in cheerleading, you will be well prepared to take on that task or any other changes that may occur.

So the next time your coach asks you to jump into a different spot in a stunt or routine, give them a big smile and know that you are not only helping your squad, but also yourself. The ability to positively adapt to change will show in all that you do. America needs cheerleaders with that mentality to remind others to always try their hardest and accept change for what it is: GREAT!

by Allison Terrell

Allison is a senior at the University of Alabama where she is a member of the All Girl squad. She recently won a Gold Medal with the 2013 Team USA All Girl squad and is our newest blogger for ANC. 

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After meeting some new friends, we lined up behind our leaders and prepared to walk out behind our flag. I’m still so emotional every time I look down and see “USA” on my chest because it reminds me that this experience is so much bigger than myself. We are here to represent our COUNTRY and set an example for the rest of the WORLD- how cool is that?

On Thursday night, we watched our Coed partner stunt group and our incredible Hip Hop dance team from the University of Cincinnati. Both groups did well and we were very proud of Coed’s Bronze Medal and Hip Hop’s Silver Medal, but we knew there was still work to be done.

On Friday, we were able to watch the rest of the Team USA Dance teams perform before getting ready for our warm up time. Both Coed and All Girl had amazing routines back in warm ups and they were ready to show the world what they had been working on!

Competing at College Nationals has always been a lot of fun for me and my Team USA my teammates, but there is nothing like competing at the ICU wearing red, white and blue. Everyone in the audience is there to watch YOU. They want you to hit and they cheer you on the whole way through! The crowd was so LOUD this year as both teams performed routines with incredible difficulty.

Walking off the mat after a great performance makes all of the blood, sweat and tears worth it! That feeling is one that is truly hard to describe. It’s seeing your coach smile and nod in approval, hugging your teammates who have become your friends, and knowing that you helped your country make history by bringing home another Gold Medal!

Congrats to everyone who participated in the 2013 ICU World Cheerleading and Dance Championships! It’s a huge honor to be chosen to represent your country in the sport we all know and love!

GO USA!

by: Ryan Martin

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Last night we had our first showing in front of people-both teams did great! Family and friends were finally able to see the hard work we’ve been putting in this past week before we take the mat on Friday. Team Canada and Team Germany also stopped by last night to get a sneak peak and take a few photos at the end!

We’re finally on our way to the resort right now and I’m excited to see what all of the other countries have been working on this year! Make sure to keep checking back for more updates on Team USA Coed and All Girl as we Go For Gold at the 2013 ICU World Championships!

- by: Anthony Reisch 

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Today is the fourth day of practices and the team is still going strong and getting better every day! Just like our coaches David and Leroy say, I didn’t think we could get better each year, but it’s safe to say that we’ve grown to be a strong team and have already learned to work well with each other. Even with the great mixture of UCA and NCA members, every part of the routine goes on without fail. It’s safe to say that our pyramids are going to be another “wow” factor this year!

With only a week left until we take the floor, we’ve been going strong to finalize every part of the routine so we can be ready to Go For Gold yet again! From the amazing elite stunts to the numerous pyramid structures, this routine is filled with awesome skills that I can’t wait for the world to see!

From the sounds on the other side of the wall All-Girl is doing great! Tomorrow we’ll be able to cheer each other on and get to see what each team has been working on since we’ve been here training.

Keep checking back for more updates on both Team USA teams as we Go For Gold at the 2013 ICU World Championships!

-Anthony Reisch 

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On Monday, my group and I flew to Orlando together still trying to figure out if this was all a dream. I am lucky to have three amazing girls from the new All Girl team at the University of Alabama. I have always had a huge passion for All Girl teams and I was 100% behind starting one at UA. Since All Girl is so new to Alabama, it’s amazing that we have come this far in such a short amount of time! I’m ready to work and see what these next two weeks have in store for us.

I always tell people, that one of the BEST parts of Team USA is meeting the team. Everyone comes from a different cheerleading background so it’s fun to see how each team tumbles, stunts and even talks in their own way! Also, we are a mix of NCA and UCA teams so we have different competition styles as well. I’m always open to learning new things and seeing how other teams make things work because we are all so unique!

After introducing ourselves, Misty and Tony put us to work! Day 1 consisted of every elite stunt we are considering for the routine, pyramids, tumbling and baskets. When you only have a week and a half to put together a Gold Medal worthy routine, there is no holding back! As a team, I think we are going to be able to pick 24 girls that will perform the best Team USA routine yet! As a stunt group, we have already learned SO MUCH in one day and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish tomorrow.

The Coed team was also hard at work today as they met their team and started placing their routine. They have already put together an incredible pyramid- I can’t wait for you all to see it!

Keep checking back for more updates from Team USA All Girl and Coed as we Go for Gold this year at the 2013 ICU World Championships!

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At our Nationals showcase at home a week before Nationals, an alumni cheerleader came up to me with her sweet little daughter, Baylee, to take a picture with me. Baylee was all dressed up in a little Carolina cheer uniform, and her mom told me that she always is excited to get a picture with me because I’m her favorite.

Later on the bus to Daytona, my coach handed me a picture that Baylee drew for me of a gamecock cheerleader with a letter telling me “Good Luck! Go Gamecocks!” and it really touched my heart.

After ten years of cheerleading, I could write a novel full of lessons it has taught me, but I figured I’d pass on the most important one I learned: Simply put, go out and be the person that you always wanted to be.  And I don’t mean that you should quit cheer and be the ballerina/rockstar/actress you swore you’d be one day as a kid. I mean that we should strive to live our lives as if someone is always looking up to us.

All I ever wanted to be as a little girl was a Gamecock cheerleader. I practically lived in my little cheer outfit as a toddler, and I’ll never forget seeing the smiling, confident, kind faces of the cheerleaders at football games thinking I wanted to be like them one day. If I can be the influence that makes someone want to be a cheerleader, that’ll be the biggest reward for me.

Throughout college, every gameday I made it my personal goal to be a representative of our school’s spirit, a representative of our community, and a representative of our program that I take great pride in.

As I close this incredible chapter of my life and get ready to graduate from USC, I’m reminded of how blessed I am to have been a cheerleader.  We have the opportunity to encourage others, build them up, and bring them joy.

Who will you be? The answer: Always a cheerleader. Cherish all of the memories, lessons, failures, and successes as a cheerleader, and let them form you into the cheerleader/person/example of character that you want to become! America Needs Cheerleaders, and America needs us to take the light we shine on the field or mat and shine onto our communities. I might be closing this chapter in life, but there will be so many chapters after this for me that cheerleading has prepared for me to write.

-Caitlin Cofield

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