By: Angelina Vasquez
March , 2024
Competitive Cheer is a sport that isn’t well understood by most sports fans. It’s a sport where teams perform routines with stunts, tumbling and dance. They compete against other schools and are judged on technique, difficulty, and overall performance. It shows teamwork and athleticism. To a very intelligent cheerleader Ana Ruggles, it’s her life. Every single day, she pushes to better herself and her team.
In the small town of Hamilton Michigan, one of the many sports that works hard to achieve goals is the high school competitive cheer team. One of the many hard-working girls on the team is Anastasia Ruggles. Anastasia’s friends, family, and peers also call her Ana. She’s a hard worker with a busy daily schedule.
There are many different positions and jobs you have to do in cheer, For Ana she is a main base. It is an important role, they are responsible for supporting and lifting the flyer during stunts. They provide a strong and stable base for the rest of the team. It requires strength, balance, and trust in their teammates. It takes a lot of practice but Ana is very good at her position.
Mornings look different for everyone but Mornings for Ana on a school day is early. She starts her day by waking up at 6:00 am and getting ready for her day. At 6:15 am she gets dressed and by 6:35 am she is brushing her teeth.
6:40 am she packs her bags for school, this includes her cheer clothes and lifting clothes along with shoes. 6:50 am she leaves her house for school. She is at school until 2:35 pm and has practice from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Once she gets home she goes on a run hangs out with her family and eats dinner. By 8:00 pm she winds down from her day takes a shower and reads her bible. 10:30 pm she goes to bed to do it again the next day.
¨I enjoy talking to the team and team bonding. It keeps me busy so I’m not bored but I have enough free time to relax and hang out with my friends.¨ Ana said in an interview.
Everyone handles a busy schedule differently, for Ana, it’s not so hard. She enjoys her sport and the people who have helped her become a better person, Teammate, and cheerleader.