Thursday Afternoon Cheer & Dance, We follow a squad

Smiles of the Medford Colts doesn't even describe the excitement that they were feeling. Just minutes after performing the team exits the Milk House with a new found sense of pride and achievement. Coaches and fans alike are there to congratulate and join in their pure moment of success.

Head Coach Melanie Philbrook was in absolute awe of her teams progress. She said, “they were awesome; we had 15 girls that had never cheered a day in their life. We just came such a long way over the past few months. I couldn't ask for anything better than their performance today, it was the best they every cheered. If they don't place, we will leave knowing we did our best and it just wasn't our day.”

Three representatives from the squad were willing to comment on their experience. “The competition was hard and nerve-racking, so we didn't know how we were going to do. But then we all got excited and it seemed to drown out all the nervousness. The motivation of the coaches and the fans was a big part of helping us get in there and focus. We get nervous a lot, have people throwing up and everything, but we go out there and do what we haft to do. We are a family!”

In just a few minutes of talking with these mature young ladies, I too surcomed to the their energy, it was inspiring. From spending four day on hairpieces that add even a more dynamic look to the everyday cheerleader they don't shave their legs prior to competition and to finish it off the want to spend each night before competition with one another in order to be a team. The Colts seemed very thankful for all their blessing and there rocking performance. We wish them luck!!

The girls were also eager to encourage other young youth interested in Cheering to DO IT ! JUST DO IT! FUN “It is a lot of hard work, there is pressure, but you enjoy it, it is where you make new friends and family.” Positive energy has filled the Milk House over the last three days, surely even after the squads are home, it is a mere feeling one can recapture by closing there eyes and thinking about the sights and voices of the 2004 National Cheer Competitions.

Story by Erin Katherine Sykes