This year, I spent Valentine's Day, not with my boyfriend (good job we don't celebrate it normally), but with my Keele Panthers cheer squad! This is because we were competing at Future Cheer, a competition held in Brimingham for university squads.
Since returning from studying abroad in Texas, getting back into cheerleading has been one of the biggest helps, but also a slight hindrance in terms of settling back in. Last year, I was in Level 1 with the rest of my peers and friends, this year I am still in Level 1 while most of them are Level 2. At first it was difficult because I really missed hanging out with them at training, but it's acutally forced me to make new friends which I know really appreciate. The thing I have found most difficult though, is battling myself in terms of fitness and thinking I can still everything how I did 10 months ago, when in fact, I really can't. Luckily, it has been somewhat like riding a bike and my stunt group and I have come on leaps and bounds in the three weeks since I've been back. I genuinely couldn't be prouder of how much we've pulled together and how ridiculously hard we've worked. Having said that, 3 weeks is not at all a long time to prepare yourself for a competition.
Even though Brimingham's only an hour away, it was always going to be a long day, comp days always are. We left Keele at 8:30 am, Level 2 performed at 12:30pm, Level 1 perfomed at 2:30pm and then we had to wait until the evening for results so did not return to Keele until 9:45pm. It was absolutely knackering but oh so worth it. There is literally no other feeling like stepping out onto the mat and having the atmosphere and adrenalin carry you through 2:30 mins of lifting someone else, throwing yourself about, jumping, dancing and smiling like a cheshire cat! It's an incredible moment.
Our 'incredible moment' earned us second place and Level 2's earned them 5th!! The best results we've had at future cheer in recent years - absolutely amazing! We're insanely proud Panthers right now.
Since returning from studying abroad in Texas, getting back into cheerleading has been one of the biggest helps, but also a slight hindrance in terms of settling back in. Last year, I was in Level 1 with the rest of my peers and friends, this year I am still in Level 1 while most of them are Level 2. At first it was difficult because I really missed hanging out with them at training, but it's acutally forced me to make new friends which I know really appreciate. The thing I have found most difficult though, is battling myself in terms of fitness and thinking I can still everything how I did 10 months ago, when in fact, I really can't. Luckily, it has been somewhat like riding a bike and my stunt group and I have come on leaps and bounds in the three weeks since I've been back. I genuinely couldn't be prouder of how much we've pulled together and how ridiculously hard we've worked. Having said that, 3 weeks is not at all a long time to prepare yourself for a competition.
Even though Brimingham's only an hour away, it was always going to be a long day, comp days always are. We left Keele at 8:30 am, Level 2 performed at 12:30pm, Level 1 perfomed at 2:30pm and then we had to wait until the evening for results so did not return to Keele until 9:45pm. It was absolutely knackering but oh so worth it. There is literally no other feeling like stepping out onto the mat and having the atmosphere and adrenalin carry you through 2:30 mins of lifting someone else, throwing yourself about, jumping, dancing and smiling like a cheshire cat! It's an incredible moment.
Our 'incredible moment' earned us second place and Level 2's earned them 5th!! The best results we've had at future cheer in recent years - absolutely amazing! We're insanely proud Panthers right now.
I also had a 'proud girlfriend moment' as Alex surprised me with his presence! As I said we're not really the sort of couple that celebrates Valentines Day but we do like to see each other on the day, I never thought he'd take it so literally. Receiving support from people who matter a lot to you is absolutely amazing though, it was the perfect way for him to return my favours of watching him play rugby outside, in the freezing cold and rain every Wednesday.
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