Guts, Heart and Determination

I watched the Power Athletics National Cheer Competition on Sunday in Tacoma, WA since I didn't have a soccer game to go watch (wink) and witnessed 2 of the greatest examples of guts, heart, determination and sheer love of the sport that I've seen in a very long time.

The first was exhibited by a young lady who overcame enormous obstacles to compete for her team. In competitive cheer you can't just not show up. You can't come off the floor or call the coach and tell him/her you can't compete due to an injury. For the team to be competitive, everyone, EVERYONE, needs to show up and give it everything they have for the team. There is no bench. Otherwise you have to withdraw or, if you choose to go on stage, nothing looks right because everyone has a specific job, a specific tumbling run or stunt to base, and it leaves a hole and you have no chance to win.
But for this particular young lady, her team is the most important thing in the world. You see just 4 days before competing she had another round of chemotherapy. While the other girls had ponytails sprayed up high, she has no hair. But in no way did this stop her from giving everything she had. And when the routine was finished, not one girl on her team cared if they even placed. They surrounded this young lady with cheers, screams and tears of joy. A true testament of what being part of a team is all about. She overcame everything to compete, to be part of the team she loves.

The second example came as a team effort. In the gym Taylor's sister belongs to there is a team amply named, Fierce. This team is made of girls from the two other teams and put together just for fun, just as a fill in for a particular level. Well, on this day it was more than that. These girls decided that today, it wasn't just for fun. Today they weren't just a "practice squad" but a legitimate team to be contended with. When they approached the stage you could see just how serious they were, it was in their eyes, their stride. They came to play. When the music queued these young girls snapped into place and proceeded to perform their routine with the precision and enthusiasm of a varsity squad. They hit every tumble run, every lift, every stunt. And when the music stopped not did they burst into excited but their entire gym and the entire convention center. They had given the performance of a lifetime. Not were they impressed, so were the judges. They ended up taking home the firat place trophy for their bracket.

I wanted to share these two examples because I believe this is where we are at Sodium, on the brink of greatness. These examples show what it means to overcome obstacles, to come together, and take yourself and team to the next level.

Vegas this weekend will be a test. We are playing some the top teams in Region IV and the Nation. Who will rise up as a leader, a player willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes for her team? Who will be the hero?

Never Give Up. Never Back Down. Never Lose Faith.

With the slots ringing in the background, the faithful will be cheering; GO SODIUM!!!