While most students were in school attending their classes, the cheer and dance teams were in Casper, competing for a state title. The two teams departed after a school assembly, where they showcased parts of their routines to the student body. At 12:30, they boarded the bus and began their journey to Casper. The bus ride was filled with excitement and laughter, as they made countless memories along the way.
Upon arriving in Casper, their first stop was a restaurant called Old Chicago, where both teams enjoyed a meal together and created even more unforgettable memories. After dinner, they headed back to their hotel to settle in and unpack. Later that evening, both teams gathered in their coach’s room for a team meeting. During this time, the seniors delivered heartfelt speeches about their love for the team and how much they would miss it. “I felt closest to my team which felt like a family before state,” said senior cheer captain Kynzee Hurd. By the end of the meeting, everyone was in tears. Once they composed themselves, they returned to their rooms and began preparing for the next day’s competition. Many girls spent the evening applying false eyelashes, doing face masks, and packing their bags for the event. Most teammates went to bed around 11 or 12.
The next morning, everyone woke up between 6 and 7 a.m. and started getting ready. Preparing for competition involved styling their hair with plenty of gel and hairspray, applying bold makeup to enhance their facial expressions, and ensuring they had the correct uniforms and costumes. By 9 a.m., they arrived at the event center for marking, which took place at 9:30. Marking allowed the teams to step onto the competition floor, find their spots, and ensure everything was aligned properly. After marking, they finished getting ready in the hallways above the stands before heading off to cheer on other teams and support them with their chants.
The first event of the competition was Game Day. SVHS Cheer was the third team to perform, and they felt it went exceptionally well. All of their stunts hit, and their voices echoed loudly throughout the arena. Next was Jazz, which was executed with precision, though they felt the routine lacked energy. Following that was All-Girl Stunt. The girls gave it their all on the mat, and although one stunt fell at the very end, it didn’t count as a full fall, avoiding a major deduction. They ran off the mat screaming in joy, proud of their performance.
Next up was Hip Hop, and the routine was executed flawlessly. Every move was sharp and clean, and the team walked off the mat beaming with pride. “I felt excited to put my heart on the floor for the last time and excited for my freshman to get to do it for the first time,” said senior dance captain Lynzee Hurd. Finally, the last performance of the day was Co-Ed. The routine started strong, with the boys energizing the crowd through flips and stunts. However, after the first two stunts, things took a turn, and nearly every stunt fell. Despite the mistakes, they still had fun, and that was what mattered most.
After completing all their performances, the teams gathered in the hallways while the All-State athletes prepared for their routines. They cheered loudly to hype up their teammates before the All-State performance. “I was super happy to find out that I made it and it was one of my goals to achieve this year,” said senior Ryan Astle. Following that, it was time for awards. SVHS Cheer and Dance received the Sportsmanship Award, an honor voted on by all the competing teams, recognizing SVHS as the most supportive group. Then, the trophy presentations began. The cheer team placed third in Game Day and fourth in All-Girl Stunt, while the dance team secured fourth place in Hip Hop.
After the awards ceremony, the teams headed out. The dancers celebrated with dinner at Sanford’s Restaurant, while the cheerleaders ordered pizza to their hotel. Later that night, the cheerleaders had some fun in the pool, practicing basket tosses and stunts in the water, flipping and trying cool tricks just to unwind after a long day. Finally, they all headed to bed, ready for the travel day ahead.
The team knew they didn’t do their best, but spending time with the family they had made within the state season for the last time helped make the trip feel like a success.
