Last Saturday, our Seminole High school cheerleading team went to Bishop Moore Catholic High school to compete for the chance to go to semi-finals! They competed in the small division and won, meaning they get to move forward and head to semi-finals with an opportunity to make it to finals and potentially win the state championships. Cooperating with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), the SHS cheerleading team will be successful.

Everyone agrees that the youth of Florida deserves the best possible education. The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is committed to this ideal, and to the belief that a quality education does not begin or end in the classroom. For over a century, the FHSAA has provided opportunities for high school students in Florida to participate on a fair and equitable basis in interscholastic athletic programs that produce vital educational benefits. 

The FHSAA is responsible for holding the states semi-final competition at the start of next month, February 1st- February 2nd. They will take place at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Those a part of Class 2A will compete on Feb. 1st, and those a part of class 1A will compete on Feb. 2nd. The coach of the SHS cheer team, Melissa Perry, is working to ensure that the girls are properly prepared for the state championship. 

Not only is our school’s hardworking cheer coach probably stressed out and anxious, but I’m sure the girls that are going to the competition are also on the edge as they can only wait and anticipate how their competition is going to go. Some girls on the team have shared their opinions about having to maintain good grades in school and balance going to practice everyday with other things they have to do after school. The girls going to the competition have a lot on their plate to deal with. 

Tamara Riggins, an SHS senior in the health academy described the whole situation as nerve racking: “Dealing with school and juggling cheer at the same time can be very difficult. I enjoy cheering but sometimes it can interfere with other things going on in my life as well as my studies and continuing to maintain the proper education needed to graduate so I definitely do feel stressed to a certain extent. Although it’s a lot I still am excited for the upcoming competition and hope we actually win.” 

The cheerleading team consists of girls in all grades of high school. They each have their own individual classes and studies they have to focus on as well as their competition prep. This is the first time in a long time that our school has made it to the semi-finals so everyone is filled with joy and excitement. They’re also very hopeful that our cheer team may actually make it to the finals and end up winning the state championship. Let’s cheer them on!