While a sports competition is often just a place to showcase skills, the varsity cheer team had the opportunity to share their faith as well, Dec. 12.

The team competed at the GSSA Northern Cal Classic in Sacramento’s Convention Center. After performing their first routine, which placed fourth in the Spirit Medium Intermediate Varsity Division, they had the opportunity to compete against five other teams for a paid bid to Aloha International Spirit Championships in Hawaii.

Before taking the stage a second time, they discovered that a former FC cheerleader, sophomore Brooke Stobbe, had injured her ankle while performing with the Buchanan varsity team.

“After our first show, Devon, my only Buchanan teammate who knew I was hurt, ran around back stage with me on her back, asking people for help,” Stobbe said. “I couldn’t think of anything good that would come out of the injury.”

The FC squad, knowing Stobbe was helped off stage, decided to take the opportunity to pray with their opposing team.

“Somebody suggested that we pray for Brooke because she had injured her ankle,” senior captain Holly Savage said. “We went to lay hands on her but she wasn’t with the rest of her team.”

Stobbe had injured her ankle during Buchanan’s routine. It swelled and she was unsure whether to continue.

“Later I found out my Fresno Christian friends were mixed into in the crowd of BHS cheerleaders to see what was wrong, and I felt a little awkward,” Stobbe continued. “However, when I found out that they had prayed for me together, it made me feel extremely loved and not only accepted by my new squad, but also still by the FC girls.”

As Stobbe’s pain and emotions flared, West and the coaches iced her ankle; they did not know whether Buchanan would compete in the next event.

“We decided instead to pray with Buchanan for healing, so that they and Brooke could settle down and still perform in the upcoming Super Six competition,” Savage said. “It felt really good to reach out to a team that I had been so anxious about seeing before.”

This chance to witness to a team from a public school highlighted the first competition of the year for mid-year addition, Mary Reynolds, ’11.

“The best part of my day was when we prayed with the Buchanan cheerleaders,” Reynolds said. “I feel like we really demonstrated the light of God; now even if we don’t take first place, we can still give the glory to God.”

While the competition continued, Buchanan and FC waited an hour for their turn to compete again. The time between shows seemed to forge a bond between the teams.

“I felt the disaster of my hurt ankle helped unite and bring together my two squads — my past and present,” Stobbe said. “It helped us, as competitors, to put the competition aside and focus on each other as people, and not as competitors. It was done in a very tasteful and sportsmanship-like way. And, with all the support behind me, it helped me press through the second performance.”

Junior Sarah Ingersol said praying for the opposing team actually helped theirs as well.

“Praying with the Buchanan girls was probably the highlight of the competition for me because we got to shine God’s light,” Ingersol said. “After we prayed with them it automatically took all the pressure off and I decided to just have fun.”

Asking for Stobbe’s recovery seemed to have a positive effect on the FC cheerleaders.

“Some Buchanan girls were a little confused,” Savage said, “but I think our team really tried to make them feel comfortable. Praying for Buchanan was the final step in a healing process that began at the end of last year.”

While few would ever wish injury on another athlete, the sprain may have given the cheerleaders insight into sportsmanship they would not have experienced otherwise.

“I definitely look at my injury as a bonus, if not the best part of the competition,” Stobbe said. “And instead of feeling awkward around my two ‘cheer families,’ I was able to feel at ease knowing they came together on their own for the good of a teammate.”

This chance to share their faith through a prayer made the competition stand out among the others Ingersol has participated in.

“Although we got fourth place, it was probably my favorite competition,” Ingersol said. “It was very different than the other competitions we’ve been to. I feel like there are more good things to come this year.”

The FC varsity squad will next compete at the USA Regional Competition in Stockton in order to qualify for USA Nationals in Anaheim, March 26-28.

For more information, contact head coach Robin Whitford or read the Dec. 10 article, New cheer leadership sets goals.