ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - As the big weekend approaches, the UCF Cheerleading team is still working really hard to make sure we are prepared for every situation that we could face at the UCA Cheerleading National Championship. The event begins on Jan. 14 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
After having a great practice for our friends/family on Monday night, our coaches gave us the day off on Tuesday to rest our bodies and refuel our energy. Although we were given the day off, our coaches continuously stressed how important it was to not use the day to just lay in bed and watch tv all day, but instead to get out of bed and keep our bodies active throughout the day. We also watch videos of our routine to find the little adjustments that we can make to continue improving.
On Wednesday, we were right back at the grind like we didn't miss a beat. We came back with a "fresh set of legs" and you could tell by the way we performed through out the practice that our day off was well worth it. We invited our UCF Cheer alumni, along with University of Puerto Rico (UPR) to be our audience. This yearly tradition gives our alumni the chance to see the routine before the big weekend. They give us "tips and tricks", as fellow team member Dawan Carter would say, to be the most successful we can be at the Championship. It was an awesome chance to learn and just continue to build on all the advice each one of them had to offer.
SPECIAL TRADITION
One of the traditions that we do each year with our Nationals team is that we have taken an old Knightro sword and use that as our "HIT" reminder, which means every time we throw the routine full out, the team members that hit all of their elements, stunts, pyramids, baskets and tumbling, place a UCF sticker on the sword. This helps remind us just how many times we've hit these skills in the routine and gives us an extra boost of confidence.
When the team gets a HIT all together, then we put on a darker UCF logo sticker to represent that accomplishment and then we use the sword to "KNIGHT" a new teammate each time the week of Nationals. To be "Knighted" is a special reward recognized by our coaching staff. It goes to a team member that has represented the program in a positive way. This recognition is not just given to every team member, it has to be earned inside the classroom, on the mat and on a daily basis. Check out our Instagram to see who will be next to be "KNIGHTED" cheerleader.
For the next week, the UCF Cheerleading team wants to invite all Knights fans to follow our 'Road to Nationals blog'. Follow the Knights on social media (Twitter/Facebook/Instagram) to stay updated as we provide an inside look on how our practices and performances are going. We would also like to encourage our fans to come out and support us on Jan. 15 at hp Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, as we compete for the UCA College Cheerleading National Championship. The crowd and its energy are an important factor and we would love to have you there!
Go Knights, Charge On!
Jay Hollman