The Lambert Competition Cheerleading Program won the state championship in 2023 and is working to hopefully accomplish this milestone again this coming season.
While all athletes are hard working, competition cheerleaders exceed this expectation because being in their sport takes a lot more of a person than other sports. Competition cheerleaders are known for having to learn high level routines in short amounts of time and travel to different areas of the state to perform.
The competition season is just kicking off, with the team’s first competition held last Saturday. The season runs through the end of October.
While the sport is fun, it also comes with stress. To be able to perfect these routines takes a lot of time and effort, meaning that practices need to be held everyday. Athletes have to go to all of these practices while also making sure that they can also handle everything else they have going on in their personal lives. Being able to handle that stress in a healthy way is vital.
Kayleigh Godwin is a sophomore on the competition team and is also on Sideline and Gameday cheer. Godwin was on the JV competition team last year and has worked hard to make the Varsity team this year, although the transition has been difficult.
“Last year I wasn’t as busy, because I was on JV,” Godwin said. “But this year, it really started getting stressful with how many practices we have.”
Godwin admitted to struggling with fitting competition cheer into her schedule. Time management is important for competition cheerleaders, and Godwin focuses on adjusting her time with things such as friends, family and school to make sure everything gets done.
“It’s just time,” Godwin stated. “It’s getting into a rhythm and having the same plan everyday.”
Student athletes often have to work around practice schedules to make sure their homework gets done. Godwin likes to have a fresh mind when it comes to getting her homework done.
“I usually prioritize sleep and do it in the morning,” Godwin said.
Another way that athletes try to preserve their mental health is making sure that they are not overworked, and this could be by not taking certain classes. Advanced placement (AP) and honors classes have a more intense workload so students have to spend more time on it than other classes.
“I don’t take as many honors…or time consuming classes because of how time consuming this sport is, and I don’t think I could give it the time and energy that it needs,” Godwin answered.
Once a person finds their balance between sports and school, it makes the sport a lot more fun and enjoyable.
“Find a rhythm, find a pattern, and just repeat it over and over again, because that is the best way not to get stressed out because you have a plan,” Godwin exclaimed.
Even though competition cheerleading can be stressful, once a rhythm is found, it can become more fun.
