“Let’s blow up the floor at state!” read a pink Post-it note in a ziplock bag with Dubble Bubble bubblegum. Pinnacle Pom squad captain Nina Cardini passed the bags out to each member of the team prior to the beginning of practice.

“Last year and a couple of years before that when I first started with the team, we would all give little puns with candy or something that were motivational for state or for nationals,” said Cardini. 

She found these little messages helpful for the team. During practice and during the dance routine, they remind them of what they need to focus on. The end goal is obvious: finish each competition in first place.

The AIA State Spiritline Championships take place Saturday at Estrella Hills High School in Goodyear. The 2019 USA Spirit Nationals are Feb. 24 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. 

“The bar is raised pretty high,” said Pom coach Kaley Nowaczyk. “We know that eyes are on us and that we’re expected to come out there and show what we did last year, if not more and way over the top and more tricks and more technique.”

The Pom squad placed fifth at last year’s nationals. 

“Last year we got off the floor at state crying because we knew that was the best time we’ve ever done it,” said Cardini.

But she blames their lack of stamina on their finish at nationals.

"It wasn’t up to par,” said Cardini. “We’ve really been running and conditioning a lot this year to make sure it’s there.”

Said Nowacyzk: "We are almost trying to beat our performance and our ranking and everything that we had last year, this year.”

As the competition gets closer, nerves are setting in.

“I’m a rookie, so I don’t really know what to expect,” said Haley Singer.

“It’s our last chance, it’s our last year,” said Cardini, one of the few senior pom members. “We want to make it the best.”

The Pom squad has worked on its routine since July, building off what they heard back following each competition.

“We are working day-in and day-out, lots of extensive practices, lots of repetition, getting through every motion, cleaning up and taking every comment we’ve gotten from past competitions and trying to apply those and make our routine better and better every day that we do it,” said Nowaczyk. 

All that is left to do is "blow up the floor.''