PENDLETON — For the past 10 years, Pendleton Heights varsity cheerleaders have traveled to Orlando to compete in the Universal Cheer Association National High School Cheerleading Championships, but this year proved to be the best.
The Arabians placed second in the nation in Medium Varsity Division I on Feb. 10.
Prior to this year, the Arabians’ best finish was third.
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“It’s a huge win,” coach Brenda Jamerson said. “We didn’t take it as a loss.”
UCA Nationals is considered the most prestigious and difficult competition in the nation.
“We’ve proven we’re the best in the state, but down there, it’s a whole different ball game.”
Live Oak High School from Louisiana won the Medium Varsity Division.
The Arabians’ flawless performance on Saturday sent them straight to the final round on Sunday.
The feat was the first time in five years the squad went directly to the finals. It was one of four teams to advance directly. In the final round, 20 teams competed for the title.
Sunday’s performance was another stellar one.
“We had no deductions, and it was wonderful,” Jamerson said.
The competition squad is made up of 16 girls and five alternates.
The Arabians’ 2½-minute routine is difficult. All of their skills fall into the Super Elite category.
The Arabians had multitudes of support not only from friends and family but also from the crowd.
“The energy in there was electric,” Jamerson said. “They loved us and wanted us to do well.”
Jamerson said they basically started over from previous years, concentrating on skills, and the payoff was big.
Part of the success can be attributed to the chemistry of the girls. The squad has only four seniors, but also has three freshmen.”My freshmen contribute hugely,” Jamerson said.
What makes their achievement even more impressive is the route to the finals. Squads don’t just sign up for the UCA Nationals; they must quality.
At the start of the competition in the Medium Varsity group, the teams are divided into four pools of 19-20 teams each — which means 80 teams were vying for the 20 available final competition slots.
One squad from each pool is selected to move directly to the finals and does not have to go through the other round.
Junior Hattie Sebastian has been in cheerleading since she was very young and reveled in her squard’s accomplishment.
“It feels so amazing. We knew what we had to do when we got there, and it worked,” Sebastian said. “Sometimes, you focus on the big picture and that’s a problem. We just needed to focus on ourselves.”
Senior Kennady Garris said the experience topped off her final year of being an Arabian cheerleader.
“It’s almost unbelievable. I was surprised but also so proud of how far we’ve come.”
Garris has been on the team since she was a freshman, and that year they did not make the finals in the Orlando competition.
“We just kept getting better and better,” Garris said.
For both girls, the team is a second family.
“I love having the bond and trusting them like my sisters,” Garris said.
“I work at making sure everyone is calm and keeping myself together,” sophomore Olivia Link said. “I don’t get nervous until the second I step on the stage.”
To compete at the level they do, the girls practice three days a week in addition to having tumbling classes. Add in cheering at Arabians games plus school, and the girls have little down time.
In all, 800 teams and 15,000 athletes over several divisions converge at Walt Disney World Resort for the annual February competition. The finals competition will air on ESPN at a date to be announced.
This season, the Arabians have won the state competition and the Hoosier Heritage Conference title as well.
“The feeling of knowing we’ve done our best is the best feeling,” Link said.