Pray For Omar

   This past weekend has been stressful and emotional for the Top Gun athletes and staff. Carlos Carrera, a member of Top Gun Large Coed 2007-2009, lost his life in a tragic car accident Friday night.  Two hours later, we learned that a member of last years Top Gun Large Coed and currently on i5, Omar Moreno, also got into a car accident.  He fell asleep, and ran a red light at around 4 am driving back home.  Omar is being kept sedated so he can rest and has been in the ICU fighting to hang on for his life.  There have been no broken bones and no damage to major organs, but the head trauma he received has produced several clots and swelling to the brain that are of major concern.  He also has a machine to maintain control of his breathing.
   Cheerleaders around the nation are supporting and are giving positive thoughts to the families of Carlos Carrera and Omar Moreno. Thousands of tweets have been posted this weekend.  Even cheerleaders  from different states like Maryland Twisters from Maryland, Cheer Athletics from Dallas, Texas and California Allstars from Camarillo, California that do not know Omar are praying and giving positive thoughts.
   Many coaches have been rotating in shifts to see Omar in the ICU.  One of my coaches, Cory Hines stayed at the hospital Saturday for 7 hours and watched Omar getting slightly better.  The day after, Omar took a bit of a turn and is not doing well.  Please keep Omar and Carlos's families in your prayers.  Omar is hanging in there and fighting for his life.

Practice Makes Perfect

   Cheerleading is one of the most intense and dangerous sports that many people do not even consider to be a sport. Not only do we dance, jump, and tumble, but we carry 100 pound flyers.  You may think lifting up a skinny flyer into the air is a piece of cake, but it is not as easy as it seems.  The bases (cheerleaders supporting the flyers) get smacked in the face,  purple bruises on their arms, and even get severe injuries like breaking their wrist or their nose.  Some flyers hit their bases accidentally after performing a difficult skill in the air such as tick tocks, kick full baskets, and double downs.     
   It is not always the flyers fault that she hurts her bases or falls straight to the floor.  Some bases may grab the wrong grip on the flyers foot or may dip unevenly to start off a basket toss.  For example, a problem that may cause a flyer to freak out in the air is that the bases are not the same height or far away from their flyer.  This can cause an uncomfortable position for the flyer and failure to toss her in the basket.

   Teamwork is a big factor in holding a stunt in the air.  The bases, as well as the flyers, have to put forth their maximum effort to achieve and master the stunt.  Flyers need to stay tight and pull their body position, like a heel stretch or a scorpion.  They also need to lean on the foot the bases are supporting and square off their hips.  Bases need to make sure they are not twisting the flyers foot or leaning away from the flyers.  If this determination and hard work is accomplished, the stunt group would be able to ace any type of building skill possible.  

Worlds 2012

  Yes, this is the moment all cheerleaders have been waiting for- competing at the USASF Cheerleading Worlds.  This is the World competition where the best of the best cheerleading teams perform.  Hundreds of teams from all around the globe travel to Orlando's Wide World Of Sports arena every April to achieve their dreams- winning the gold metal as well as a specialized Worlds ring.  Every year it is a tough battle between these elite teams.  Some of the top-notch gyms that went were Maryland Twisters, World Cup, Cheer Extreme, California Allstars, Brandon Allstars, Spirit of Texas Allstars, Cheer Athletics, and the Top Gun Allstars.
  Worlds is not only a constant clash of cheerleaders, but it is also a time to reunite with friends from different gyms.  Cheerleaders get to see their friends from different states and watch them perform.  Some girls trade gym t-shirts or gym apparel for other sports bras or shorts from another cheerleading gym.  You can also find cheerlebrities at Worlds, like Gabi Butler from Top Gun Allstars, Kiara Nowlin from California Allstars, Maddie Gardner from Cheer Extreme, and many more. Friday, April 27, many cheerlebrities met at the arena to sign shirts, bows, and even competition shoes for good luck!  Many cheerleaders look up to these outstanding athletes and cheer them on as they perform their impressive routines on the floor.
   Since this is a major competition, various cheer teams change their music, competition uniforms, and their routines.  They especially transform their routines so the other cheerleading teams do not copy or mock them, having similar stunts and choreography.  Their goal is to be original and unique.  Some teams tweak their music and add fierce voice overs.  Not all, but most cheerleading teams modify their uniforms to impress the judges and the world.  Maryland Twisters F5, wore two specialized uniforms at worlds.  Top Gun Allstars really wowed the audience with their new sparkly top and capri leggings, not the usual cheerleading uniform.