Bay High School Cheerleaders
BY MELISSA HAGAN; PHOTOS BY JOANNA RAE BANKS-MORGAN
BRING IT ON & SOAR TO VICTORY AT 2015 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS!
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“WE ARE WHAT WE REPEATEDLY DO. EXCELLENCE THEN, IS NOT AN ACT, IT IS A HABIT.”
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Aristotle’s famous words are a defining mantra of the Bay High School Cheerleader Team. More than 200,000 student athletes take part in competitive cheerleading throughout the country where high-flying stunts, power tumbling, and tight synchronization yield winning scores in a growing network of competitions at all levels. It takes commitment and a relentless work ethic to compete at the top level.The Bay High Cheerleaders prepare year-round, while the rest of us enjoy dinner with our families, take part in hobbies and leisure activities with friends, and vacation at Disney World.When one season ends – another begins.
In the word “student-athlete,” student always comes first.To be able to compete, student athletes have to provide equal dedication and maximum effort to both school and sports. They are balancing academics, community service, and sportsmanship throughout the school year. They must maintain their GPA and complete their homework assignments and coursework all while practicing and perfecting the skills needed in the sports arena.
Bay High School has had a competitive cheerleading team for 20 years. However, competitive cheerleading has only been recognized as a sport by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) since 2008. Bay High School Cheerleaders have a tradition of victory, winning three FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading State Championship titles in 2008, 2012, and, most recently, in 2015 by an 8 point margin. They also placed at the National High School Cheerleading Championship USA (Universal Cheerleaders Association), bringing home a third place finish in 2013 and a fifth place finish in 2014.If success is that place in the road where preparation meets opportunity, then the Bay High Cheerleaders are traveling down Victory Lane.
In an Interview with Coach Misti Wonders,
we find out how dedicated the young Bay High Cheerleaders are.
[divider]How long have you coached at Bay?
I have been the head coach at Bay since March of 2011 and I was an assistant coach from 2004-2007. However, I have been a part of the Bay High cheerleading program for over 20 years. When I was younger my mother, Lori Clutch, was the cheerleading coach and she built the competitive program at the school. I also graduated from Bay and cheered all four years of high school.
What were the most memorable moments of the team during this competition year?
Hearing Bay High School being called out as State Champs!! It was an amazing feeling and it is so rewarding to know all of their hard work paid off!
What made this team stand out from other teams?
I truly believe the Bay High Cheerleading program is special. We have such a long-standing tradition of success and being a part of it teaches these kids so many valuable life lessons. The cheerleaders learn what it means to be committed and dedicated to something, they learn how to win and how to lose, they learn how to work as a team and how to depend on others, they learn how to overcome adversity, and they learn how to be leaders. When the season finally comes to an end, the cheerleaders end up becoming more like a family and they really make lifelong friends and memories.
However, this team was special because some of the students have been chasing after that state title for three years. This group just had that inner drive to succeed and they were willing to put in the time and effort, no matter how hard it got. The seniors this year also won State as freshmen, so they knew what it would take to bring home another championship. Our juniors have also been part of a team that came so close to a state title because in their freshman year (2013) we lost by only 0.4 points. That was a tough pill to swallow and they know what it feels like to lose by such a close margin, which I truly believe has made this group work harder to achieve victory.
What were some of the obstacles they had to overcome to get to a victory?
We had so many injuries this season. There were ankle and foot injuries, back injuries, and concussions. No matter how safe the team was at practice, it honestly seemed like we just had the worst luck because, as soon as someone recovered, another would get injured. It is not like other sports where we have a second and third string at our disposal. When someone gets hurt, it is not easy to replace a team member. Cheerleading is truly a team sport because it takes every member to be at every practice in order to be able to run our routine. If one person is missing, an entire stunt group cannot practice. A large portion on the score sheet is synchronization, and you cannot effectively practice and master that skill without every single member on the floor.
What were the keys to the success of the team?
I feel like people really underestimated this team. From the beginning, a lot of people said 2015 would be a rebuilding year for us. We lost four very talented seniors last year and everyone knew they would be difficult to replace.
I think people counted us out from the start. When we didn’t bring home a first place victory from Regionals, I think many people in the county doubted our chances to do well at State. Although we did advance straight to finals, being the underdogs fired up this group of cheerleaders like I have never seen before. They were okay with the fact that they were not Regional champs, because as soon as they saw anyone doubting them, they made up their minds to do whatever it took to bring home the championship that really counted… STATE. This team was willing to practice five and six days a week some weeks to perfect their routine. When school was out on Mondays for holidays, this team would come to school to have a long practice. They were willing to sacrifice time from their friends and family to achieve their goals. They are really a remarkable group of teenagers.
Do you believe cheerleading should be classified as a sport? Why or why not?
I absolutely believe cheerleading should be classified as a sport. The bottom line is these cheerleaders are athletes. They jump, tumble, stunt, and dance all while remaining perfectly synchronized with 15 other teammates. The athleticism and dedication needed to perfect a 2-1/2 minute routine is unbelievable. People don’t realize just how difficult it is. Some sports involve catching a ball, while cheerleaders are expected to catch a person.
Another thing most people don’t realize is these cheerleaders really don’t have an off-season. They have to try out for sideline cheerleading in April. They practice all spring and summer to get ready for football season in the fall and then from October to February they are in full swing for competition season.
What makes a good cheerleader?
It is not the talent or ability that makes a good cheerleader. Anyone can be taught how to stunt and tumble. What I am looking for are kids who have the drive and the will to succeed. I will take a cheerleader who has a great attitude and who is willing to come to practice and give it their all every single day over a talented cheerleader who doesn’t want to put in any effort.
What is your recipe for a winning team?
It is a secret recipe and if I shared it, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore.
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In a follow-up interview with this year’s Bay High School Cheerleading Team Captains, we find out how cheerleading has impacted their lives and future plans.
[divider]PCL: What does winning the FHSAA State Cheerleading Championship mean to you in your senior year?
Abbigail Lewis: “Being a state champ means the world to me. We worked so hard to achieve that goal all year and to know all of our hard work and dedication to winning paid off! I love my team more than anything and I’m so proud to be apart of an amazing program!”
PCL: What was the toughest moment during the year and during the competitions?
Britney Hiers: “This season has been quite an adventure. Winning State was a great moment in all of our lives, but leading up to this moment we had quite the rough start. We had multiple girls who had concussions, sprains, hurt ankles, wrists, elbows, backs, necks, fractured bones, etc. you name it, someone on the team had it. Injuries were a major setback to achieving our goal, but that did not stop us. We had to put all pain aside and think what is best for the team as a whole. We pushed ourselves past our limits but that’s what it takes to succeed.”
PCL: In competitive cheerleading, how does the team that you cheer on influence your own team’s performance? What comes after high school for you and in what other sports are you interested in participating?
Kiley Hagan: “Bay High Cheerleading Program is different than any other in the county. Our coaches have actually been in our shoes and competed and performed the way we all do now. Their experience makes their directions a lot easier to take and makes our team overall much more successful. The tradition we have in the county of success doesn’t just come from reputation, but all of the hard work and time we’ve put into the program to make it our own. After high school I plan on attending Auburn University and major in veterinary medicine through the College of Agriculture. I think now that I have time to venture back into other sports, I may pick back up on my equestrian riding or volleyball.”
[author image=”https://www.panamacityliving.com/media/2014/10/PC-MAG-Photo-MHagan-full.png” ]Melissa Hagan is the President of Emerald Coast Interview Consulting since 2002. After locating to Panama City in 1998 as a military spouse, Melissa spent a large portion of her career at Gulf Coast State College as a Grant Manager, Project Director, and served as the Chief Development Officer. Melissa earned a Bachelors degree in Communications/Public Relations from Mississippi University for Women in 1989 and went on to complete a Masters Degree from the University of Oklahoma in Educational Leadership in 1999. Melissa is heavily involved in the local community and currently serves on several advisory boards for non-profit organizations. Recently, Melissa was appointed to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women where she will serve as an advocate and make recommendations to the legislature, governor, and cabinet on issues affecting women. [/author]