In any given sport--team or individual--competitors get approximately three months worth of games,  matches and then playoffs to determine state champions. 
In the spiritline competitions, state champions are determined based on about four minutes of performance.

Or as Perry Pom coach Tenneal Howard puts it, one and done.

"Everything we all work for basically comes down to those few moments in front of the judges," Perry Pom coach Tenneal Howard said after an exhausting yet succesful weekend.

"It's not like any other competition where you get thirty minutes or an hour to adjust to mistakes and your opponent. It's basically a year-round commitment and they get about two minutes in the qualifying round and another two in the championship."

Over the weekend, cheer and dance teams from over 50 schools across the state converged upon Veteran's Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. Preliminary rounds began on Thursday and the final championship performances ran for nearly 12 hours Saturday.

The result was three days of tension, excitement, surprise and in some cases, disappointment.

For coach Howard and her Perry colleagues, it was a worthwhile experience, as the Pumas took home the state championship in the small jazz category, and runner-up in the cheer category.

Perry High performers walk on to the main 'stage' Saturday during the spiritline championships. Photo by Ben Stapley

"It can be nervewracking experience for the girls and everyone involved," Howard added.

"We start in April and then it's basically year-round from that point on. All of these girls and coaches put in so much sacrifice, as do their families. Alot of times when everyone else is on fall or Christmas break, these girls are working and rehearsing."

Llike most athletes, cheerleaders and dancers are required to stay in top physical shape, which includes weightlifting.

"They're all athletes just like in other sports. But we have to make sure they have somwe fun along the way," Howard added.

Balancing Risk & Reward

Red Mountain Cheer coach Kaci Okland was not expecting her squad to take home a state championship trophy Saturday, but that’s exactly what happened.

“It was an unbelievable surprise and a dream come true,” Oakland said.

“There are so many amazing teams. The D1 has a tremendous amount of talent, and it was an honor to rub shoulders with so many amazing teams.”

Like coach Howard from Perry, Okland explained how the time and sacrifice for everyone involved can be overwhelming.

"It's more time than most people think," Okland added. "The pressure can also be overwhelming especially when they get to that (championship) performance."

Okland's strategy was keeping things simple and enjoyable. When she saw the dates for championship weekend and the proximity to winter break, she knew a decision had to be made.

"The winter break was later than normal this school year, and we noticed it fell close to the championships," Okland explained. "We had to make a decision about practicing over the break, and ultimately we de decided not to."

Okland cited burnout prevention and the general nature of the winter/christmas break.

"We still expected the girls to maintain their typical physical routines and such."

Another key to state championship weeknd are managing nerves before going on such a big stage. As Okland and Howard both pointed out, cheer and dance are different in that the results are subjective, and completely in the hands of a panel of judges.

"The AIA does a great job of how they organize the judges and different categories, but it still adds to the anxiousness the girls feel before performing," Okland said.

The Red Mountain Cheer team celebrates its state championship Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Kaci Okland

Okland explained the key is making sure her dancers enjoy the entire journey. "All of these coaches and perfromers are amazing and work so hard. So at the end of the day, I think the key is to make sure the girls still have fun no matter what," Okland added.

"Our cheer team did not select the most difficult performance. We wanted to make sure we could execute and make it the best experience possible. I'm still surprised we won, but what an experience." 

 

Top 3 finishers in all categories:

D1 Show Cheer:

1st-Red Mountain 

2nd-Perry

3rd-Xavier

 

D2 Show Cheer:

1st-Williams Field

2nd-Cactus Shadows

3rd-Sunrise Mountain

 

D3 Show Cheer 

1st-Benjamin Franklin

2nd-San Tan Foothills

3rd-Mesquite

 

D4 Show Cheer

1st-North Valley Christian

2nd-River Valley

3rd-St. Mary's

 

D1 Pom

1st-Highland

2nd-Mountain View

3rd-Casteel

D2 Pom

1st-Horizon

2nd-Sunrise Mountain

3rd-Desert Mountain

 

D3 Pom

1st-Notre Dame Prep

2nd-Benjamin Franklin

3rd-ALA Queen Creek

 

D4 Pom

1st-Globe

2nd-Seton Catholic 

3rd-Rancho Solano Prep

 

Large Hip Hop

1st-Walden Grove

2nd-Benjamin Franklin

3rd-Shadow Ridge

Small Hip Hop

1st-Liberty

2nd-Cactus Shadows

3rd-Mesquite

 

Large Jazz

1st-Highland

2nd-Mountain View

3rd-Desert Mountain

 

Medium Jazz

1st-Horizon

2nd-Mountain Ridge

3rd-Hamilton

 

Small Jazz

1-Perry

2-ALA Queen Creek 

3rd-Red Mountain

 

D1 All Girl Stunt

1st-Highland

2nd-Red Mountain

3rd-Westwood

 

D1-2 Partner Stunt

1st-Willow Canyon

2nd-Nogales

3rd-Valley Vista

 

D1-2 Coed Cheer

1st-Horizon

2nd-Shadow Ridge

3rd-Willow Canyon