As we have moved into the winter season, our competition cheer team traveled to SEMO to compete at their State Championship. This year marks the second time the team has gone to State. 

The road to State wasn’t exactly easy on the team. After Regionals, a couple girls were not able to continue with the team, which made formations and stunt groups disorganized. However, nothing could stop this team as they quickly adjusted to make a new routine. 

“It was kind of hard and also annoying because we had to move around a bunch of stunt groups and it was difficult at first to adjust but we made it work,” senior base Ella Herring said. 

Not only was it hard on the team, but also the coaches as they are in charge of all final decisions. Head Coach Michelle Staebell and all other coaches had to put their heads together to make a flawless routine for their girls. 

“The road to State is stressful and tiring, but all of that is worth it to see your athletes perform at their highest level on the biggest mat – no greater feeling than to see them do their best after such hard work!” Coach Staebell said.  

At State the girls were awarded fourth place over all. The team was overjoyed with their outcome because they improved so much over the past two months. Back in October, the team came in fourth, but they were not satisfied with their performance. The girls overall score took a six point deduction, which is a huge let down. 

The team’s raw score was 83.53 but with the deduction the girls final score was 77.53. In the cheer world, anything below a 90 is considered a low score. The girls were determined to bring that score up for State and work harder than they ever have before. 

“My motivation was to do it for the seniors because it’s their last year and to just work hard for my teammates,” junior backspot Kennedy Bradley said. 

The team’s practice before taking the final mat was rough. Stunts fell, tumblers did not throw passes, and overall the routine wasn’t hitting. Most of the girls were feeling nervous before the final performance, but they plowed through it once DCC was called to take the floor. 

The overall performance was the cleanest and starpest the girls ever performed. The team finally hit zero, a cheer term meaning there were no deductions or penalties against their score. All of the girls were extremely happy to hear this news. After the awards, and getting called fourth, seeing the score made all the difference. The girls ended the competition with a 93.20, the highest the team has gotten that season. 

The team made many memories along the way. They had a theme night, where each stunt group dressed in their own theme, and team bonding the night before the big performance.  

“My favorite part of being at State was spending time with my teammates at the hotel and also just the anticipation of getting there,” Bradley said. 

“My favorite part of comp was getting closer with the team and learning how to work together. It was great working with a bunch of other girls with the same goal,” sophomore flier Emma Thornton said.

One thing that will change next year for the girls is the coaching staff. Head Coach Michelle Staebell has been guiding the cheer team for 12 years. She even spent four of those years coaching cheer and dance. 

“I love the sport of cheerleading, and I love watching my athletes attain their goals,” Coach Staebell said.

Coach Staebell has grown in many ways over the years. One thing she improved on was being a better listener. This quality implements a feeling of respect and is used to build strong relationships.

“My favorite thing about Coach Staebell is how she includes as many people as she can and pushes people to always do better and treats us with respect and not like kids. Coach Staebell taught me to be strong and fearless. With stunts she would give me the confidence that I can do them,” junior flier Isabelle Dam said. 

Not only has Staebell learned from her athletes, but they have learned from her. Many of her cheerleaders move on to cheer in college and share her love of cheer. 

“Being with Coach Staebell for four years, not only taught me about cheerleading, but I have also learned to always stand up for myself. She always stood up for the team and showed us to stand up for what we believe in,” senior captain Olivia Smith said. 

Most of the cheer team continues to cheer on basketball this winter season, as it is the last for seniors and Coach Staebell. Each girl has grown and learned many things throughout their time with Coach Staebell, no matter how long they have had her as a coach. Make sure to congratulate your DCC comp team on a job well done at State, and watch for them at each home basketball game!