Varsity cheer travels both local and nationally to compete

Two split seconds… the calm before the performance. A long deep breath before hearing the counts, 5,6,7,8. Go time!

Every bow secured, every uniform without flaw and injuries iced. The most gut twisting and exhilarating 2 minutes and 30 seconds that the team has been waiting for all year. Hearts drop as the energy hums across the mat, and the girls get set in position just waiting to explode.

Fresno Christian cheerleaders have found themselves in this position four times this year as their competition season has stretched from the summer months to the last competition, Feb. 5.

It all started with cheer tryouts May 2021. A new team was born, and the realization that the road to nationals had begun. The thrill of competition, early morning practices, and uphill battles throughout the season aren’t anything that the FC Eagles haven’t faced before. Comp season opened Dec. 4 for the team after a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With 23 cheerleaders on the squad, 15 had never competed on the varsity team which added a sense of anxiousness knowing the year would look different then most.

Being a first year freshman on varsity, as well as taking on the new high school responsibilities, Milly Morgan, ‘25, has been a FCS cheerleader for 5 years.

“To be on the cheer team as a freshman can be intimidating and scary but this year it was
exactly the opposite of that,” Morgan said. “The seniors this year have been the greatest cheer mentors and have become really good friends as well. I will forever cherish this amazing team and the amazing season we had! It is a true honor to be able to say that I have been a part of the 21-22 FCS cheer team. Freshman year cheer cannot be beat!”

In total the team competed at four competitions: CIF Invitational, FCC National Championships in Florida, Clovis Pep Classic, and the FCC Westcoast Championship.

The squad took home the Championship 1st Place at the CIF Invitational, Div II, Dec. 4. The team competed against Clovis North and Clovis West and were shocked to hear their name called as the champs against such known schools. This moment will never be forgotten as the crowd, parents and coaches exploded with excitement and celebrated with the team on the floor.

Next stop for the Eagles, 2,292 miles across the nation to Oralndo, Fl.

The first FCC National Championships took place in Lynchburg, VA in 1989 with only 12 teams and about 150 kids. During the 2021 FCC nationals, 90 teams competed in the showcase. Again in the Varsity Intermediate Division, the girls took to the mat on two separate days with a New Years party to kick off day two.

The FC cheer team earned 3rd place in their division along with awards for Best Showmanship and Choreography. Head cheer coach Coach Hope Villines was surprised as well when presented as a Coach of the Year Finalist.

“I had NO idea I had been nominated or was even a candidate for coach of the year!”, Villines said. “I was shocked and surprised when my name was called to the stage and I was truly honored and touched to receive one of the ‘Coach of the Year Nominee’ awards. I absolutely love the sport of cheer and coaching it is my passion. I’m blessed to do what I love at the school that I love!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Feather (@thefeatheronline)

Back home in less than one month from nationals, the team took to the mat at the 45th Annual Clovis Pep Classic, Jan. 29. They placed 2nd behind the host team Clovis High, who placed 1st. The team achieved a hit zero which means they executed a routine without any deductions, no stunts were dropped, no athlete messed up their tumbling, no safety rules broken and no other deductions were given.

The last competition of the year took the team back on the road to Azusa Pacific University competing at the FCC Westcoast National Championships, Feb. 5. Anticipating the final competition brought sentimental feelings for the six seniors. The Eagles landed a near perfect routine and placed 1st in the varsity intermediate division.

Senior Ashley Sciacqua shares how that final moment felt when the music stopped and they rallied off the mat for a final time.

“Going to my last competition was definitely very emotional for me”, Sciaqua said. “My mind set the whole weekend was to have a fun time, make tons of memories, and just give it my all when we competed. After competing, we were all very emotional just because we knew our season had ended and it was the last time competing together as a team.”

This would end the competition road for the team as they looked to finish their season supporting their basketball team on the court. Next year’s cheer team will be decided after spring tryouts in April. Way to shine ladies!

To read more about cheer read, CIF, Div II ,First Place for cheer.

For more from The Feather visit, FC Serve Day 2022 or Movie Review: Uncharted

Gallery • 9 Photos