For Better or Worse

There is a God and I owe him one...or five. But before I get to why let me just say Pat started off the practice by asking us which we wanted first, the bad news or the really bad news. As a team we chose the really bad news. The really bad news was that he plans on adding at least four more practices in the next month and a half. Some are going to be on Sundays and others on Friday nights. This news was not that bad in my opinion...then again I enjoy practicing.

On to the bad news. This one was kind of a shock but not at the same time. He just told us that he was watching cheer videos the past weekend and he decided that we have to be "us." A switch flipped in my head and I automatically thought oh shit were watering this routine down... a lot. After he told us his plans on switching things in the majority of the routine, I asked the question that everyone was thinking, are we still going down with our original goal in mind. He eased my mind to say the least.

The first thing we changed is our opening tumbling. Our new formation is more visual. My part didn't change which was a good sign. The formation for the elite is the same. All-girl does a stunt then spring tucks. We just put counts to it today. Then first pyramid is the same also. So pretty much the only thing we changed from the beginning is the opening tumbling.

Now to the good part. I NO LONGER HAVE TO HOLD THE CHEER PYRAMID!! God must love me a whole lot, because I now do NOT have the hardest part in our routine! I don't think anyone realizes how happy my hair is. So instead of holding it I am backspotting it. Even when he put me in the position I was trying not to freak out I did a good job at practice but after my mind was going wild. Now I don't have to worry about it!

Team stunt got watered down. To be completely honest I'm kind of mad. I know every group including Carters was a bit shaky but I really do feel that if we had the time to work on it we would get it. Pat's rational was it would never be clean, which I can understand. But at the same time my group along with every other group was progressing well. It wasn't like any group was a total disaster in any of the elements.

Baskets changed and this part I feel like is an improvement. Our new baskets are gonna be bad ass, no joke. Oh, and we finally have an idea of what our end pyramid is going to be! Super excited about that. That's pretty much all the changes we made.

Although we watered down a few areas I don't think its going to have an effect on our overall goal. We now are in the position to have a clean and elite routine.

We even got the opportunity to start running a few elements of the cheer tonight. It was more frazzled than before, but I think its just because of all the changes.

One of the best moments from my practice today was when we were reping team stunt; Bri was falling out of a stunt and we were all over the place below here, I yelled save it and she just locked up. She froze and we saved the stunt. That is exactly why she is one of the best fliers. She doesn't just give up on stunts, she does her part to save every single rep. It makes me extremely happy to have her as my flier.

Even on days like today where we have to get a lot done in a short period of time I can't help but be thankful for each person on my team. They genuinely put me in a good mood. I know I can always count on them. In a stressful situation like nationals is its a relief to know that I have a strong support group around me.


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