This week the cheerleaders placed fourth in their division in Dallas.
This weekend the Dazzlers performed at UDA Nationals in Orlando. They placed first in Hip Hop, and second in Pom.
The wrestling team received the crown at the 26th annual sectionals this weekend.
Boys’ swimming placed second at their conference meet and girls placed first at their conference meet.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KqWHopLjeU&w=640&h=360]
Video and photos by Blake Dykes
By Lexi Burch and Bryce Romig
Disney World is where ‘dreams come true’ and the Dazzlers are hoping for their dreams to come true when they travel there this Wednesday to compete in UDA Nationals.
After winning eleven consecutive national titles and double titling last season, expectations will be high when the Dazzlers arrive in Orlando.
“For me to win my fourth national title would be amazing,” said junior Courtney Crombie. “Most people work four years to get those four titles, and to get it as a junior would be such an awesome accomplishment.”
Sophomore Coral Portman said that they have been preparing for this years nationals even before they won last year. The Dazzlers devote all their time and breath to the sport.
“We train every week with a personal trainer and we practice hours daily,” said Portman. “We have competitions almost every weekend to prepare for the pressures of nationals.”
For the senior Dazzlers this will be their last time performing on the black mat. They say that the feeling of it being over is very bittersweet.
“Knowing this is my last time at nationals is hard to believe,” said senior Kimberly Humphries. “Saying goodbye to my team will be one of the hardest things I will ever do.”
UDA Nationals is not all stress and sweat. The girls said spending the weekend in sunny Florida, in the exciting Disney World is one of the best times throughout the season.
“The most exciting part about Nationals is being out on the floor with the rest of my teammates and just knowing that we’re about to kill it.” said Crombie. “The idea that everyone in the building is watching you and only you, is a feeling I can’t even describe. We go on autopilot when we’re out there competing and everything just happens.”
Winning Nationals for any team would be exciting but for the Dazzlers it is carrying on a legacy. This team and past teams have made it possible for the Dazzlers to have a consecutive winning streak.
“It would mean everything to win,” said Sophomore Taylor Neagle. “We work so hard each year to bring home another title. Carrying on the legacy of teams before us would mean so much to current team and past teams.”
As Wednesday draws near the hearts of the Dazzlers are racing and the butterflies in their stomachs are fluttering. The memories of winning reenter their minds.
“The feeling of winning is like a ten thousand pound weight has being lifted off your shoulders,” said Crombie. “It is crazy how much pressure is on us to keep an amazing legacy going, and when we win all the hard moments and struggles are beyond worth it.”
By Sidney Reynolds
Yells of encouragement ring throughout the gym as the Dazzlers start practicing their routine.
“We go over our routine a lot and I ask my teammates to watch.If they see something is wrong, they tell me how I can correct it,” said sophomore Kayleigh Brewer.
At practice it is common for the Dazzlers to support each other not only to make adancer better but also to make the entire team stronger. To have a strong team everyone on it must be supportive of each other. It helps make the performance better and more enjoyable for the entire team.
For the Dazzlers, dancing helps them in more ways than just getting fit and having a hobby. “Dazzling is more than just dance. It teaches you life lessons. Also, you make friends you can hangout with outside of practice,” said senior Brooke Lentz.
The Dazzlers have been working hard to make sure their routine is perfect this year for nationals in February. They have a year round season with practices four times a week for two and half hours long.
“Practices are long and hard but are completely 100 percent worth it at the end of the day,” said sophomore Coral Portman.
Nationals are their biggest competition and is held in Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The Dazzlers will be there foran entire week.That is much longer than their normal competitions, which generally last around six hours.
“This early in the seasonwe are looking good, but we have to work todo before nationalsin February,” said Lentz.
The Dazzlers have won in Orlando from 2003 to 2012. Last year they doubled titled in varsity pom and hip- hop at nationals.
“I don’t go into the season expecting to win nationals because I don’t want the girls to just think they will win every year. I want them to go into the season giving a 100 percent plus an extra 20 percent to be better then last year,” said coach Todd Sharp.
This year the team is training to have an 11th consecutive win. “We had done what present Dazzlers, past Dazzlers, and Todd had pushed us for, our 10th consecutivewin in varsity pom,” said senior Regan Wimsatt.
They still have a while until nationals, but they will train for it at practices and performing at football games. They also have many competitions between now and then they use to prepare for nationals. Their next performance is during halftime at the home game tonight.
“I can’t image dancing for anyone else because when we go to a competition I see the ways the other teams look at us and I am so proud to be a Floyd Central Dazzler,” said Portman.
by Devin Bloomfield
After winning their ninth consecutive national title, the Dazzlers went straight back to the dance floor to prepare for state. Tomorrow, state will be held in Indianapolis at New Castle High School.
Before 2009 Coach Todd Sharp left it up to the girls to decide if they wanted to go to state or not since nationals is extremely intense and exciting. Now, however, it is mandatory to go to state if they go to nationals.
“State is always a fun time for all of us girls to get closer together. It is a great team bonding experience,” said senior Jenna Wilbur.
This year the Dazzlers will perform their pom and hip-hop routines. Wilbur said she thinks they will do really well in both routines, especially their pom.
“We have won first in pom at every competition we have gone to this year, so hopefully we will at state, too,” said Wilbur.
Even though the Dazzlers were tired after nationals, they still came back motivated and ready to work hard to do well at state.
“We’ve had to keep our stamina up since we got back from nationals, but we haven’t had as many practices since we got home from nationals,” said freshman Courtney Crombie.
Crombie has high hopes of winning tomorrow despite the team’s previous experiences at the competition.
“Even though preparing for state is an extra month on our season, we all look forward to the experience and competition,” said Wilbur.
The Dazzlers won state in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2010 in the past 10 years, and they hope to add another year to that list tomorrow.