Hopped off a plane at LAX…
As I look around my apartment, I am embarrassed by the mess of cheerleading uniforms, suitcases and laundry. I haven’t really unpacked my suitcase since I went home for my short three day Christmas break because I have been on the road as much as I’ve been home! This crazy, but exciting time in my life started back in December when I packed up my suitcase to head back to Lexington. I was able to see a few of my friends and spend time with my family for three days, then I had to pack up and head back to Tuscaloosa for practice. Not only was my team trying to prepare for our own National competition in January, we were also preparing for a trip to California for the National Championship game. The first week of January, we packed up and flew to Pasadena, CA. The weather was warm welcome as we hopped off the plane and headed to our hotel. We were able to spend four days in the California sunshine and I loved every minute of it! We went to the Nick Saban show, several pep rallies and a red carpet event where I met celebs like LeAnn Rimes and the College Gameday cast! The best part of the trip was actually cheering the game. The Rose Bowl stadium was incredible and packed with screaming Alabama fans. Also, our team won their 13th National Championship!! It was the trip of a lifetime and I will never forget it!
Still sitting on Cloud 9 from the win, we returned back to the chilly weather in Tuscaloosa and two-a-days! We had less than a week to refocus and perfect our national routine. We headed down to Orlando on Thursday night and started the weekend off with great practices that night and on Friday. Saturday was the first time we would be able to show our routine in the Milk House. We had an awesome run through with only a few minor bobbles. The next day was show time! 
Sunday night, we hopped on our bus and started the familiar drive which seemed to last hours. Before I knew what was going on, I realized we were back in warm-ups about to step on the mat. Everything was pretty much a blur from there. Our routine was full of energy but unfortunately, we had a few mistakes. It was hard to keep my team positive after our performance, but I did my best to console our freshman and my friends.
Everyone looked pretty solid this year and we were so excited to find that we still placed SECOND in the competition to the University of Kentucky. They looked great this year and I was happy for all of my friends that are still there! We headed home on Monday night and started school the next morning. Now, my suitcase is still packed because I’m getting ready to head back down to Orlando for high school nationals! Good luck to all of the teams that are competing and maybe I’ll see you there!
Everyone looked pretty solid this year and we were so excited to find that we still placed SECOND in the competition to the University of Kentucky. They looked great this year and I was happy for all of my friends that are still there! We headed home on Monday night and started school the next morning. Now, my suitcase is still packed because I’m getting ready to head back down to Orlando for high school nationals! Good luck to all of the teams that are competing and maybe I’ll see you there!
<3ryan>
Living in the Moment
This week is the beginning of my last semester at Rosman High School. What an amazing high school career I have had and only the best is yet to come in college. But for now I am living in the moment :] This year is the first year since I was seven years old I have had the opportunity to cheer with my younger sister. I am so happy she made Varsity as a freshman we have had the best of times. I know next year she will hold down the squad very well without me!Along with basketball cheerleading, All Stars is coming along very successful! Now with two National Championships under our belt, Cheersport here we come!!! Spirit of Hope was an amazing competition that touched all of our hearts in a special way. With Cheersport Nationals our next competition in line we have a lot of hard work to put in. We are going for that bid to worlds!!! :] This weekend is always the most exciting weekend during competition season with Cheersport being the largest Cheerleading and Dance competition in the world. So good luck to all teams competing! See you there!!
<3 tORi
HOPE
Our team had been through it all, and I felt like I had personally taken some pretty hard hits lately. First we had many illnesses and injuries and Jamfest Super Nationals in Indianapolis was only a few days away. In addition I had just found out about the terrible tragedy in Haiti. I was stressed completely out about the competition this past weekend and I was waiting to hear news from my friend Jean Robert in Haiti.
I met Jean Robert through a great organization called World Vision that gives people the opportunity to sponsor children around the world. I have been writing to him for five years and when I heard the devastating news about his county it hit my family like a ton of bricks. We haven’t been able to get any information on him yet but we have faith that he will be fine along with his family. I have never been the person to sit around and let events unfold, I have to be directly involved and this opened up a new door for me. As my friend McKenzie and I were eating at our favorite restaurant a few days ago I brought up that I wanted to raise money for World Vision to help in Haiti and we created a fundraising effort that we just got up and running called “Hope for Haiti.” We are currently selling shirts and hope to be able to hold events to raise awareness and to get help to the earthquake victims as soon as possible. If you would like to purchase a shirt or make a donation we have a facebook page with more information: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Hope-for-Haiti/283948503372?ref=mf
Back to cheerleading, our team was hopeless but like myself my team does not stand by and let things happen. We pulled together this weekend sick and wounded even though many of our members would not be competing with us. If this wasn’t teamwork then it had to have been HOPE;
Hope that we could overcome the biggest obstacle that has been given to us thus far. I have never been more proud of Senior Elite than I was after we had competed day two and hit two routines and were named National Champions!
In closing it did lift my spirits to meet so many nice people, sign autographs and pose for pictures with great friends this weekend. I couldn’t ask for a better support during such a hard time. Thank you so much for giving me a little more HOPE.
-Maddie
I met Jean Robert through a great organization called World Vision that gives people the opportunity to sponsor children around the world. I have been writing to him for five years and when I heard the devastating news about his county it hit my family like a ton of bricks. We haven’t been able to get any information on him yet but we have faith that he will be fine along with his family. I have never been the person to sit around and let events unfold, I have to be directly involved and this opened up a new door for me. As my friend McKenzie and I were eating at our favorite restaurant a few days ago I brought up that I wanted to raise money for World Vision to help in Haiti and we created a fundraising effort that we just got up and running called “Hope for Haiti.” We are currently selling shirts and hope to be able to hold events to raise awareness and to get help to the earthquake victims as soon as possible. If you would like to purchase a shirt or make a donation we have a facebook page with more information: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Hope-for-Haiti/283948503372?ref=mf
Back to cheerleading, our team was hopeless but like myself my team does not stand by and let things happen. We pulled together this weekend sick and wounded even though many of our members would not be competing with us. If this wasn’t teamwork then it had to have been HOPE;
Hope that we could overcome the biggest obstacle that has been given to us thus far. I have never been more proud of Senior Elite than I was after we had competed day two and hit two routines and were named National Champions!In closing it did lift my spirits to meet so many nice people, sign autographs and pose for pictures with great friends this weekend. I couldn’t ask for a better support during such a hard time. Thank you so much for giving me a little more HOPE.
-Maddie
2010 Back for the Win
Cindy Lou Who from Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch said it best, “Where are you Christmas?” I can’t believe Christmas has come and gone and 2010 is already here. Looking back on the past 12 months I have to say 2009 is going to be a tough year to top. Between winning my 3rd consecutive NCA collegiate national championship with the University of Louisville, being crowned a world champion for the second year in a row with GymTyme All Stars, and capturing gold at the first ever ICU event with Team USA, I just don’t think it’s possible. And how could I forget to mention my three-month stint as an intern in the Inside Cheerleading office last summer in Atlanta, Georgia!
As with most everyone else in the world, with the new year comes new endeavors. My first being this weekend at Jamfest
Nationals where I will be taking the floor yet again for the first time since the Cheerleading Worlds last April. I originally wasn’t supposed to compete until next month at Cheersport with Gymtyme International level 6, but unfortunately one of the members on the International level 5 team was hurt over Christmas break resulting in me having to step up and fill in for him. I am nowhere near in the shape that I should be in to be competing a full out 2 ½ minute all star routine, but duty calls and I am up for the challenge! Wish me luck!
My next adventure takes me back down south to Atlanta, the home of our beloved iC, for Cheersport Nationals where myself and the University of Louisville will be competing as GymTyme All Stars in the International Level 6 division. Aside from trying to win a bid to the 2010 Cheerleading Worlds, this is the time for all of the freshman and new members on the team to prove themselves as good competitors to the veterans as well as our coach, James Speed! It’s kind of like another tryout to see who will fill up the coveted 20 spots on mat for College Nationals in April, which will be my next endeavor.
Second semester is always a hectic time for me trying to balance school 5 days a week along with cheering basketball games, making appearances, and practicing nearly 7 days a week into the wee hours of the night. I’m not really sure how, but I have always seemed to manage in years past without my grades suffering. It’s my senior year so be sure to check back in with me to see how things are going in that department when April gets here more sooner then later. Hopefully I can walk away with my 4th, and the squads’ 8th consecutive national title!
I wish I could say it would all be over after College Nationals but that is not the case. Only two weeks after hitting a perfect routine on the Band Shell in Daytona Beach, Florida, I have to switch gears and head down to Orlando, Florida for the 2010 Cheerleading Worlds.
I’m an old pro when it comes to this, considering I have attended and been a competitor at every Cheerleading World’s competition since it originated in 2004.
I know it sounds like all work and no play, but I do try to reward myself for all of my hard work. Just this past weekend a bunch of us took advantage of the snow and went skiing! Although school has only been back for a week, we have already gotten two days off due to bad weather conditions and I couldn’t be happier. I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. Until next time!
-Griff
As with most everyone else in the world, with the new year comes new endeavors. My first being this weekend at Jamfest
Nationals where I will be taking the floor yet again for the first time since the Cheerleading Worlds last April. I originally wasn’t supposed to compete until next month at Cheersport with Gymtyme International level 6, but unfortunately one of the members on the International level 5 team was hurt over Christmas break resulting in me having to step up and fill in for him. I am nowhere near in the shape that I should be in to be competing a full out 2 ½ minute all star routine, but duty calls and I am up for the challenge! Wish me luck!My next adventure takes me back down south to Atlanta, the home of our beloved iC, for Cheersport Nationals where myself and the University of Louisville will be competing as GymTyme All Stars in the International Level 6 division. Aside from trying to win a bid to the 2010 Cheerleading Worlds, this is the time for all of the freshman and new members on the team to prove themselves as good competitors to the veterans as well as our coach, James Speed! It’s kind of like another tryout to see who will fill up the coveted 20 spots on mat for College Nationals in April, which will be my next endeavor.
Second semester is always a hectic time for me trying to balance school 5 days a week along with cheering basketball games, making appearances, and practicing nearly 7 days a week into the wee hours of the night. I’m not really sure how, but I have always seemed to manage in years past without my grades suffering. It’s my senior year so be sure to check back in with me to see how things are going in that department when April gets here more sooner then later. Hopefully I can walk away with my 4th, and the squads’ 8th consecutive national title!
I wish I could say it would all be over after College Nationals but that is not the case. Only two weeks after hitting a perfect routine on the Band Shell in Daytona Beach, Florida, I have to switch gears and head down to Orlando, Florida for the 2010 Cheerleading Worlds.
I’m an old pro when it comes to this, considering I have attended and been a competitor at every Cheerleading World’s competition since it originated in 2004.I know it sounds like all work and no play, but I do try to reward myself for all of my hard work. Just this past weekend a bunch of us took advantage of the snow and went skiing! Although school has only been back for a week, we have already gotten two days off due to bad weather conditions and I couldn’t be happier. I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. Until next time!
-Griff
TEAM USA and the SEC
I can’t believe 2009 is almost over! That means the end of school, Christmas, two-a-day practices, and nationals are all right around the corner. Of course with Christmas in the air there is lots of fun happening here in Tuscaloosa. Theme parties are definitely my favorite and I absolutely LOVE dressing up in Tacky Christmas sweaters. My friends Ashley, Hannah and I put together some pretty crazy outfits and I think my gold tights were a big hit! We also had our team Christmas party this week too. It was fun to just hang out, eat some good food and exchange presents with our secret santas. My Secret Santa did an awesome job and bought me some Victoria’s Secret Sweatpants!!
The first weekend in December was full of excitement for me-the Alabama Crimson Tide football team won the SEC Championship! I was really bummed when I found out that the Georgia Dome only allows seven couples to cheer the game, but in the end it worked out great because I was able to visit my friends in Athens and rest up for Team USA tryouts on Sunday. I took off Friday morning for Athens, Georgia to see two of my high school friends that attend UGA. It was so good to see them again and we had a great time watching the game together.
I had to wake up early Sunday morning to get ready for tryouts and I was pretty nervous because I didn’t know too many people there. Luckily, some friends from Staff were there and we were able to catch up! I didn’t have the best tryout, but I am so happy to say that I am now a proud member of the All-girl TEAM USA Squad! I am so thrilled at the opportunity to represent my country this year! We were immediately fitted for our uniforms, warm-ups and polos and I can’t wait till we get them. After tryouts, I had to drive back to Tuscaloosa and hit the books. It is now finals week here and I only have one more to go-wish me luck!
As soon as finals are over my team will start two-a-day practices. I am ready mentally, so let’s just pray my body is prepared too! We already have our routine music and we have been working really hard. I’ll check back in a few weeks and let you know how nationals practices are going. I hope everyone finishes up the semester strong!
<3 Ryan
The first weekend in December was full of excitement for me-the Alabama Crimson Tide football team won the SEC Championship! I was really bummed when I found out that the Georgia Dome only allows seven couples to cheer the game, but in the end it worked out great because I was able to visit my friends in Athens and rest up for Team USA tryouts on Sunday. I took off Friday morning for Athens, Georgia to see two of my high school friends that attend UGA. It was so good to see them again and we had a great time watching the game together.
I had to wake up early Sunday morning to get ready for tryouts and I was pretty nervous because I didn’t know too many people there. Luckily, some friends from Staff were there and we were able to catch up! I didn’t have the best tryout, but I am so happy to say that I am now a proud member of the All-girl TEAM USA Squad! I am so thrilled at the opportunity to represent my country this year! We were immediately fitted for our uniforms, warm-ups and polos and I can’t wait till we get them. After tryouts, I had to drive back to Tuscaloosa and hit the books. It is now finals week here and I only have one more to go-wish me luck!
As soon as finals are over my team will start two-a-day practices. I am ready mentally, so let’s just pray my body is prepared too! We already have our routine music and we have been working really hard. I’ll check back in a few weeks and let you know how nationals practices are going. I hope everyone finishes up the semester strong!
<3 Ryan
Three, it’s a magic number!
Three, it’s a magic number. It’s my favorite School House Rock song and now I know that three is a truly magical number. My weekend in Atlanta, GA proved it so.
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To begin the weekend my parents and I went to eat with some members of the iC team Shane, Ben, Amanda and Jackie as well as James, a member of the Nfinity staff at a chic restaurant downtown. It was so nice to reconnect with people from my photo shoot for the December cover and those who have been a part of my entire “Golden Ticket Journey” and of course always to meet new friends. The next day I met up with Ben from iC and we sat at the magazine’s booth at All-Star Challenge’s Battle Under the Big Top National Championships. I got to meet a lot of people who knew me from the magazine and even sign some autographs. Everyone was so nice and I really enjoyed the whole experience.
Of course I was there to do a job, and that was 
to compete with my team, Cheer Extreme Senior Elite. We were out for a coveted World’s Bid and we have wanted this prize from All Star Challenge for quite some time. We were prepared and brought our “A game” this weekend. There was never a question that my new back spot Mallory could handle the routine even though she had big shoes to fill. Both days we hit perfect routines and we knew it was all up to the judges and great people at All Star Challenge.
to compete with my team, Cheer Extreme Senior Elite. We were out for a coveted World’s Bid and we have wanted this prize from All Star Challenge for quite some time. We were prepared and brought our “A game” this weekend. There was never a question that my new back spot Mallory could handle the routine even though she had big shoes to fill. Both days we hit perfect routines and we knew it was all up to the judges and great people at All Star Challenge. The third magical event was the last moment at the competition, awards. We knew that we had a chance but there were some amazing teams at the competition this year. We won our division but we couldn’t dwell in that victory we had to move on to the World’s Bids. Battle Under the Big Top gave two Full Paid Bids and I was so 
anxious to hear the results. To top off my magical weekend my team received a full paid bid along with Georgia All-stars. I was absolutely thrilled. After all of our work we could finally take a breath and start preparing for the paramount of our season, Worlds. It is such an honor to be sponsored by All Star Challenge. They are a truly unique competition that lets me do what I love, perform.
anxious to hear the results. To top off my magical weekend my team received a full paid bid along with Georgia All-stars. I was absolutely thrilled. After all of our work we could finally take a breath and start preparing for the paramount of our season, Worlds. It is such an honor to be sponsored by All Star Challenge. They are a truly unique competition that lets me do what I love, perform. I want to thank everyone who made this weekend possible, the team from iC and Nfinity, my coaches and team, and finally my friends from All Star Challenge who I am so excited to see more of throughout the season. A special thank you to some special ASC friends, Don Collins owner of All Star Challenge and a long time acquaintance, Tanya Boles who has been there since the start of my cheerleading career, and finally Dennis Worley my friend, and biggest fan. You all made three a magic number.
-Maddie
SEC Champions!
Can you say “2009 SEC Champions?!” That’s exactly what the Alabama Crimson Tide football team has been repeating since we took down Florida on December 5 in the Georgia Dome. The
town of Tuscaloosa is full of excited fans still celebrating our victory and trying to find a way to make it out to Pasadena for the National Championship game. I am hoping that I will be one of the lucky cheerleaders chosen to attend this game, so keep your fingers crossed for me!
town of Tuscaloosa is full of excited fans still celebrating our victory and trying to find a way to make it out to Pasadena for the National Championship game. I am hoping that I will be one of the lucky cheerleaders chosen to attend this game, so keep your fingers crossed for me! Besides being boasting about the taking down of Tim Tebow and the Gators, my squad has been working extremely hard on our nationals routine. If you checked out my blog, you know that I was selected to represent Alabama this year at Nationals! Every practice someone on our team brings in a motivational story or quotes that is relevant to the task at hand. David has really stressed to us the importance of being “a team” and not a group of individuals. This is the same sermon that my mom and Saleem preached at Dunbar, and it’s also one that can’t be said enough! I truly believe that in order for our team, or any team, to reach our goal we need to come together and do what’s best for the team, not for ourselves.
Practices are getting more intense and everyone is beginning look at the calendar and realize that the competition is right around the corner. Finals week is coming to an end in Tuscaloosa and that means the beginning of two-a-days. My team is definitely starting to feel the pressure and we all handle it in different ways. If you’re like me, you love the pressure. I rarely get nervous, and if I do, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell. Just thinking about returning to that infamous blue mat at Disney’s Wide World of Sports gets my heart racing. It brings back memories of my high school team and how badly I want to continue that success with my team here at Alabama. In these last few weeks before the competition, we will be performing are routine at local high schools and for our family and friends to prepare ourselves for Orlando. We have a lot of veterans on the team, but also a lot of new faces, including me, and I know we will be ready! I am excited to see what all of the other teams have put together for this year and how we stack up against them. Wish us luck down in Florida and be sure to check out my blog to see how we did!
Thanksgiving - NO BREAK
11/24/09
This is it!
The first semester of my fourth year of college is coming to a close. It’s hard to believe that 4 months have so quickly come and gone. I’m only hoping I can say the same about the next three weeks. From the perspective that school will be out for an entire month I am very happy and looking forward to it. However, from the perspective that I have to take all of my finals before that can happen leaves my very stressed.
This is it!
The first semester of my fourth year of college is coming to a close. It’s hard to believe that 4 months have so quickly come and gone. I’m only hoping I can say the same about the next three weeks. From the perspective that school will be out for an entire month I am very happy and looking forward to it. However, from the perspective that I have to take all of my finals before that can happen leaves my very stressed.Today was the last day of classes until Thanksgiving Break is over. Normally, no class would mean no homework, but not in my case. Over the break I have to write an essay, study for my finals, and work on my part of a group project. Not to mention cheer my last home football game of the season and of my cheerleading “career” on black Friday. Welcome to my life as a student-athlete. I am looking forward to the football game. I only live an hour and half away from Louisville so the drive doesn’t really bother me anymore… and like I said, it’s the last time I will cheer in the Papa John’s Stadium! Speaking of “last times,” I just got back from Tampa, Florida where I cheered my last away football game too. I can’t tell you how good it felt to be able to wear only a shirt and shorts outside. 
The weather was amazing and I got meet up and spend some time with an old friend who cheered with me and is a Louisville alumni. They say the friends you meet in college will last a lifetime, and I fully believe that.
The weather was amazing and I got meet up and spend some time with an old friend who cheered with me and is a Louisville alumni. They say the friends you meet in college will last a lifetime, and I fully believe that.Thanksgiving this year is going to be a small one. My brother-in-law who has been in Afghanistan for the past year will be home so my sister and him are staying in Tennessee, and my brother (who I stayed with this summer while interning at iC) is having thanksgiving in Georgia with Natalie’s side of the family. I still can’t wait to go home though and have a real cooked meal!
Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving!!
Griff
Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving!!
Griff
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