This weekend, one of the most important cheer competitions on the East coast took place: Battle at the Capital. With countless Bids to the Summit and to the cheerleading Worlds, this is one competition that was packed.
For some background, the main goal for any top level team is to go to Worlds. Worlds is the international cheer competition and is annually hosted in the Walt Disney world resort. Strictly competing only level 5 and level 6 teams, you will be viewing the best cheer athletes at their peak. The Summit is a strict competition which encompasses all level teams. Going to the Summit, which is also held in Walt Disney World, you will view athletes of all ages with different skills. Levels vary by tumbling and stunting ability. Level 1 allows cartwheels, front walkovers, and back walkovers. Level 2 allows all level one tumbling and standing backhandsprings, running backhandsprings, toe to bhs, multiple standing bhs. Level 3 includes all level one and two tumbling/stunting, then adding on tucks. In the level four division you are allowed to throw all level three and under tumbling, adding on a layout which is a hallowed body backflip. Level five tumbling includes all of the lower tumbling with a new skill- the full. A full is a running backflip with a horizontal twist. Every D1 college requires this skill. Stunting (putting people up in the air) is another aspect of the cheer levels as elite stunts can range in difficulty. You are graded on your teams difficulty and the way you encompass your skills overall.
Teams are now run by level, difficulty, and how many people you have. The most exciting teams are those which bring the most energy- an example being Senior Elite from Cheer Allstars or F5 from Maryland Twisters. These teams shot to fame on their first comp day as they brought energy and high level skills to the competition mat. A huge role in their fame would have to be social media. This is the way which the cheer world can interact even if they live on opposite sides of the country.
This weekend was a very successful one as many teams brought home victories, Bids to Summit and Worlds, and others brought home criticism from world renown coaches as to what to fix. On this two day competition my team competed both days. The first day we were expected fourth but finished third. For day two we were expected to place second since we hit a perfect routine with zero deductions (none of our skills or stunts fell). Unfortunately we came in fifth which was miserable since it’s nearly impossible to fall down places when you have zero deductions. We will receive a scoresheet back by Thursday to see what we need to strive to fix for the upcoming competition in Trenton, New Jersey next weekend. Hopefully we will do better and get our bid to the Summit.
on