S.M. Chavey | Collegian
Stunts often make or break a routine for competitive cheer teams. For the Hillsdale Fillies and Jags, their dead-on stunts at the Michigan State Championship in Detroit on March 11 and 12 led both teams to first place, and secured them an opportunity to compete at U.S. Finals April 22 and 23.
The Jags, Hillsdale’s older team, was awarded the Gold Bid for the first time in team history, which means their trip to Chicago for the U.S. Finals will be free.
The performance of the teams at the U.S. Finals will determine their national rankings. The highest the team has ever placed is seventh nationally in 2010. Chicago is one of eight different locations for the U.S. Finals this year, and the rank will be based on the team’s score. The routines are scored on the stunting, tumbling, and dance portions.
“I’m a little nervous because it’s crazy, I didn’t think we would make it this far. I really hope we win,” cheerleader Olivia Long, 10, said.
Though the teams have been fighting illness all season, making it difficult to practice, head coach Jill Hardway, ‘89, said some strong practices leading up to the competition helped prepare the teams for the competition.
“Not only do they have to have the skill, but they have to be able to do the routine in a complete synchronized fashion, so everyone has to match,” Hardway said. “It’s rewarding just to see the girls progressing and improving every week.”
The teams have been scoring well all season, but they typically compete against just two or three other teams. The state competition included five to seven teams, and Hillsdale performed the best it has all year. Apart from competition weeks, the Jags and Fillies only practice two to four hours per week, respectively.
“I like the kids and like how much fun they have,” assistant coach and senior Corianna Baier said. “Most of these kids don’t know each other, they all go to different schools and come from different places. It’s cool to see them becoming friends. They all have different handshakes they do.”
Part of these friendships develop through bonding experiences — like a meal shared with all the families in Chicago at the finals meet.
Hardway began coaching the team in 2008 after leaving a job coaching the Hillsdale College competitive cheer team. Though she opted for gymnastics and track rather than cheer while a student, she led the Hillsdale College team to a national championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the coach.
Hardway found Baier to assist her two years ago.
“It’s just been so nice to have her there as our college coach. She’s just done a great job with the kids and she’ll be missed next year,” Hardway said.
Cheerleaders Gracy Livensparger, 13, and Semara Bowers, 10, both said they perform better under the pressure of an audience.
“When you get on stage, the adrenaline in your head feels really good,” Livensparger said. “Whenever you have 200 people in front of you watching you cheer, it makes you work harder, especially with the lights and the song.”
Bowers said the audience pushes them not to give up.
“Everyone’s cheering for you and smiling,” Bowers said.
