During February, the San Dimas cheer team participated in two competitions. The first was in Bakersfield on February 8th, and the second competition took place in Anaheim from February 14th to 15th. In Bakersfield, they placed 1st, which was a significant achievement for them as it was their first competition away from home. This event was the JAMZ California Youth and School Championship. The athletes enjoyed bonding with their teammates and creating lasting memories. The competition during February 14-15 was particularly important, as it was the USA Spirit Nationals. For some of the girls, this was their very first experience at nationals, while others were eager to compete again. Here are some of the athletes sharing their experiences.

During the JAMZ competition, the SDHS cheer team placed 1st out of 3 teams, overcoming challenges like injured athletes and limited practice spaces. Freshman Ariel Casillas reflected on her experience: “I felt nervous since it was my first competition away from home, and the other teams were intimidating. But we showed that our hard work paid off.” Despite the nerves, they won. Some of her favorite memories were staying in the hotel with her teammates, preparing together, sharing dinner before the event, and celebrating when their team name was called for first place. Freshman Aaliyah Ramirez also shared her experience. She stated, “Although I have competed before in cheer this was a great experience for me,” she also said, “I got to bond with my teammates and have a great time with my team”. She shared that she loved spending time with her team taking photos and making silly TikToks.

During the USA Spirit Championship, also known as Nationals, the team placed 9th out of 13 teams. They competed against teams from various regions across the United States. Despite facing many challenges in the week leading up to the competition, they persevered. Although they did not qualify for the finals, they achieved a top-10 finish.

Senior Astrid Mauricio shared her experience at her first nationals. She talked about her last-ever competition as a senior. She said, “There were ups and downs throughout the year, but we still pulled through. This was a very cherishable moment for me as a senior.” She also said, “I loved bonding with my teammates and my stunt group to learn new things with them.” As a senior, she felt like she had a great time bonding during the USA competition. Although they had to push through, she still found it fun and will remember this moment.

Sophomore Ella Coffman shared her first experience at nationals. She said, “It was fun; it was a great experience and I really enjoyed it.” Ella expressed her excitement, stating, “I’m looking forward to going back next year.” She emphasized that it was a wonderful experience and she looks forward to bonding more during her junior year. Sophomore Mariah Rivas also shared her experience. She mentioned, “It made our team grow when we performed, and it was a good experience.”

The team found the experience fun, and they look forward to coming back next year and performing.