It is that time of year again for the Spirit Team: competition season. Their first competition of the season was on December 6th at Branham High School to determine whether or not Notre Dame Spirit will be invited for the CCS competition. The spirit team hit the mat and the cheer team took home second place with a high chance of qualifying for the CCS championship in January.
At Branham invitational, Varsity Show Cheer and Varsity Gameday faced some tough opponents, with some schools being Pioneer, Leland and NDB’s sister school Mercy Burlingame. Mercy took home fourth place, Leland took first, and Pioneer took first in their divisions.
A lot of work goes into perfecting routines from the beginning of summer through nationals. Spirit Team attends USA cheer and pom camp every summer in preparation for a fantastic season, learning new skills, leadership and stunts. The Pom/Jazz team received their competition choreography at the beginning of September, while the Cheer/Game Day team received their choreography mid-September. The team practices multiple times each week, even before school, to help prepare the athletes to compete competitively against some of the best teams in Northern California.
While looking best on the outside is an aspect of competition, the most important part is athletes feeling best and confident in the hard work they put into their routines. Not only do athletes take the positivity and confidence off each other, but they also get it from their coaches. NDB spirit coaches Lea Santini and Miggy Mendoza, push their athletes for success and the confidence to make each and every athlete feel loved and supported for success.
“From the discipline of technique to the joy of performance, they develop resilience, confidence, and a deep sense of belonging. Every athlete plays a meaningful role, and together we build an environment where hard work is valued, kindness is expected, and teamwork is everything, making the NDB Spirit Program not just a team, but a family,” shared Coach Lea Santini.
Once athletes hit the mat, the worries go away and the spirit comes to life. It truly is the best feeling for the spirit team to see their fans in the stands cheering for a fantastic win. Not only is winning the best part of being a part of this team, it is also the sisterhood and friendships that are formed. With the feedback and experience from this competition, the spirit team will get ready for their competitions in December, January and USA Spirit Nationals in Anaheim in February.
