The Malibu High School (MHS) varsity cheerleading squad recently secured its spot at United Cheer Association (UCA) Nationals this February in Orlando, Florida. Now, the 14-member squad is fundraising to book tickets to get across the country.
The long road to nationals began in May, when the squad new members. began practice with several returners and six
“We have a lot of new juniors and a couple of freshmen,” senior captain Kennedy Myers said. “This year’s squad is a mix of old and new, and we’re really working well together. The new girls have a new outlook on cheer.”
Typical practices take place three days per week for an hour and 45 minutes each. The girls begin around 3:15 p.m. by running the MHS amphitheater steps and stretching. They then spend time preparing for upcoming football or basketball games, and work on jump sequences for competition routines.
Melisa Andino — the Sharks’ coach for seven years — said that the girls are working on adding more difficulty into their stunts to become competitive with squads from across the nation.
“The veterans are great at helping train the new girls, and the new girls have stepped up where we need them,” she said. “They take advice from the veterans and run with it.”
Success came early in the season when the squad won the Spirit Stick award for the second summer in a row at UCA cheer camp in Santa Barbara. The award is given to the best overall team that demonstrates hard work and listening skills.
“The staff said they loved working with [the girls] because they worked hard and had a good time,” Andino said. “It was cool to see them go in and win twice in a row.”
Along with UCA competitions, the squad cheers at MHS football and basketball games, which Myers said is much different from competition cheerleading.“Games are very laid back and not competitive,” she said. “Competitions are much more of a routine and less spontaneous. During the games, you call cheers based on the game, but you hold your own destiny and fate in competitions.”
The squad qualified for nationals in early November at UCA Southern California Regionals — the first of three competitions for the year. Qualifications were based on a two-and-a-half minute routine, comprised of one minute and 30 seconds of music and one 45-second cheer.
Their performance gained them a first-place finish in the small, nontumbling division.
The Sharks also participated in a game day competition, in which the girls cheer in response to simulated game scenarios.
“Judges mainly look for skills from camp that you’ve worked on and incorporated into your routine,” Andino said.
While the Sharks have qualified for nationals in the past, this is the first year the girls have decided to raise funds to make the trip across the country and compete against hundreds of high school cheerleading squads from around the nation.
“Going into regionals, I knew that the girls were committed to making it happen,” Andino said.
“This was the first year that the team said they would do whatever it takes to get there, and it was great knowing that this team was going to pull together.”
Myers said she was excited to learn that her team had qualified for nationals.
“It was expected because we work so well together,” she said. “Nationals are something I’ve been working toward since freshman year, and qualifying made me really want to go forward with more practices and long hours.”
February’s trip to Orlando will cost the squad and coaches $20,000 total, $10,000 of which they have already raised through fundraisers and donations to the MHS Athletic Booster Club.
The girls are currently selling ad space in programs for MHS boys basketball games and will put sponsors logos on their national team T-shirts. They will also host a bake sale and gift wrapping at the Malibu Lumber Yard’s holiday shopping event this Saturday, Dec. 12, and will perform at Malibu Village on Sunday, Dec. 13.
Young cheerleaders ages four through eighth grade are invited to sign up for a cheer clinic on Jan. 9 hosted by the MHS varsity cheerleading squad, with all proceeds going toward the trip to Orlando.
Andino said the girls’ fundraising efforts have exceeded her expectations.
“I want them to go out and hit a routine they can be proud of at nationals,” she said.
To donate to the MHS varsity cheerleading squad’s trip to nationals, visit one of the fundraising events, or send cash or checks to the MHS Athletic Booster Club (attention Melisa Andino) at 30215 Morning View Drive, Malibu 90265.
