Cheer and Dance see success at State

This past weekend the Green River High School Cheer and Dance teams competed in the Wyoming State Spirit Competition. Both teams saw success, with the Cheer Team coming home with yet another State Championship victory.

Cheer Champions

The Cheer team placed first in the fiercely contested 4A Game Day Category with a score of 90.45, beating a competitive Cheyenne South team by only 1.3 points.

GRHS's Head Cheer Coach Mikayla Smart spoke about the key elements the team had been focusing on in practice to prepare for State and how these elements coincided with judging criteria.

"Our team's preparation for the State competition prioritized clean, concise motions and synchronization above all else," she explained. "These elements directly aligned with the judging criteria, particularly in categories focused on technical precision, execution, and timing."

Smart also explained how the Game Day category relies heavily on crowd participation, seamless movements, and high energy.

"We concentrated on ensuring every athlete's movements were sharp, consistent, and perfectly timed to create a polished overall performance," she said. "This approach allowed us to focus on scoring well in areas we could control and execute with confidence."

When discussing the challenges faced this season, Smart said one of the biggest challenges the team encountered was merging a recently-developed team of 27 total athletes, which included only eight returning athletes alongside14 new athletes and five alternates.

"Balancing the varied experience levels required significant effort to bring the team to a consistent performance level," Smart said. "To address this, we focused on foundational skills and repetition to ensure new athletes mastered the basics while returners refined their skills. Structured practices emphasized team cohesion and synchronization, allowing us to bridge the gap between experience levels."

Smart said an added challenge was keeping the athletes engaged and energetic during practices while they juggled school and other commitments.

"To address this, we created structured practices that emphasized quality over quantity, ensuring every minute was purposeful," she said. "Team bonding activities also helped maintain morale and focus during the intense preparation period."

When asked about how the team approached the mental aspect of competition, Smart remarked that it is an area the team focused heavily on. She further stated that visualization drills played a pivotal role in their winning strategy. Smart also commented that focusing attention on the team's consistent improvements during practices helped shift the concentration from outside pressure to internal progress.

"We always do something called 'bussing' where athletes sit together, like they are riding a bus, close their eyes and mini the routine in their seats," Smart explained. "This mental preparation is incredibly helpful, especially for those that have never done anything like cheer before."

GRHS Cheer will not be attending Nationals this year. Smart remarked that the team will take time to celebrate their win and use their "momentum" to grow as a program.

"We aim to strengthen our skills, improve synchronization, and build stamina through enhanced strength training," the coach explained. "Additionally, we are working on expanding our fundraising efforts to better support our athletes and provide the resources needed for future growth."

Dance determination

The Wolf Pack Dance team placed fifth (out of 10 teams) in both the Hip Hop and Jazz categories at the State Spirit Competition.

This was the first time in many years that the dance team competed at the 4A level at the State competition. The Wolfpack Dance Team already secured a spot at the national competition, and Head Coach Debi Kovick explained how the results of this competition will impact how the team prepares for the national competition.

"WPDT received feedback from four judges that have extensive experience evaluating hip hop and jazz dance routines," Kovick said. "Judges use the Universal Dance Association score sheets to evaluate execution of movement, technical elements, uniformity, spacing. The team is ready to put in some work to improve before taking their routines to nationals in February."

Kovick also expressed that the coaches fostering a positive and supportive environment during intense competitions is an important part of the sport.

"Our team emphasizes team unity as a foundational element of our success," she said. "Our season is long. Staying committed and connected is crucial."

Kovick also stressed that parents are "vital" in ingraining a powerful sense of team camaraderie and support.

"This environment of mutual encouragement helps to alleviate the pressures of competition, allowing our dancers and coaches to focus on their performance while feeling supported," she added.

Kovick said that there are many rewarding aspects of competing at the State Spirit Competition.

"One of the most significant aspects has been the development of strong bonds among team members, as they worked tirelessly together to perfect their routines and support one another through challenges," she noted. "Additionally, the competition environment encourages dancers to push their limits, setting and achieving personal goals that inspire a sense of accomplishment."

The Wolfpack Dance Team will be headed to the NDA National Championship in Orlando, Florida February 14 through 16.