The Española Valley and Escalante high school cheerleading squads came home with trophies last week at the 2010 Spirit competition at the Santa Ana Star Center.
Escalante finished first in Class AA at the statewide competition and Española placed third in Class AAAA.
When the Española Valley cheerleaders heard their team had placed third April 17, they celebrated as if they had taken first place.
“We were all jumping up and down,” senior Heather Montoya said. “It was like we won state.”
The Sundevils scored 220 points April 16 to grab third place after the first day of competition. They improved their score to 224 the following day to finish with 444.5 points. Roswell took first with 479 points and Taos was second with 473.5 points.
“That first day all of us were just so nervous,” Montoya said. “Once we hit the mat, all of us seniors were ready to go and we left everything on the mat.”
The second day of competition was easier than the first.
“We were so excited that second day we were ready to get out there,“ senior Andrea Cortez said. “It was like being in a sandbox. We just went out there and played.”
The Sundevils had several elements in their performance, including pyramids in which five members of the team stand on top of their teammates. At times during the performance, team members (flyers) were tossed in the air to be caught by waiting teammates.
“We have to have trust among each other,” Montoya said. “If you don’t trust your teammates to hold and catch you, you’re not going to be able to do your routine.”
Cheerleading is scored by a panel of three out-of-state judges flown in for the competition. They judge the teams in 10 categories with up to 10 points awarded in each category. A perfect score would be 100 points from each judge. Categories include choreography, difficulty, showmanship and execution.
Injuries are a part of life for cheerleaders, just as in other sports. The Sundevils had to regroup after a key member of the team suffered an injury just before state. Marika Martinez, a flyer, injured her right arm April 10 and was unable to perform. Senior Lenora Padilla stepped in to fill Martinez’s shoes.
“She had to learn the routine in two days,” Española coach Leo Jaramillo said. “ By the way she performed, you would have never known.”
Jaramillo thanked the success of the Española boys basketball team, which made it to the state finals, for part of his team’s success.
“Thanks for getting them onto the Pit floor,” Jaramillo said, “They were in their element in front of a huge crowd and were ready for the state competition.”
Jaramillo had told the team before state that he intended to leave at the end of this season after seven years at Española, but the third-place trophy may have changed his mind.
“Last week, I was 100 percent committed (to leaving),” he said. “That trophy did something. It makes it harder.”
There were 20 seniors on this year’s team.
“We all cried when he told us,” Cortez said. “However, next year, the new coach could start with a clean slate.”
Jaramillo said he needed a break after being involved as a cheerleader coach for 14 years and had competed as a cheerleader from 1993 to 1995 at Española.
“They’re kids just like me,” Jaramillo said. “I know where they come from and about breaking the stereotypes people have about Española.”
Jaramillo went on to cheer from 1996 to 2000 at the University of New Mexico and coached at St. Pius X and Manzano high schools in Albuquerque before returning to his alma mater in 2003.
“That first year (at Española) I had 14 try out and eight stayed on,” Jaramillo said. “This year, we had 95 try out. We’ve really increased the number of kids wanting to cheer.”
Over the Hump
For the last two years, the Escalante High School cheerleaders have finished third at the state Spirit competition. This year, they learned what it was like to finish first.
“I was really excited,” junior Andrea Madrid said. “This is the first cheer squad (from Escalante) to take first place.”
Escalante coach Becky Martinez is in her third year as coach after beginning her coaching career in 2005 at Escalante Middle School. She has been Madrid’s coach since the sixth grade.
“We were all jumping up and down and you should have seen their dads in the stands,” Martinez said. “I was hugging Andrea. I had promised her when we started we’d take state.”
After the first day of competition, the Lobos were locked in a tight race for first with two other schools. Pecos was first with 192.5 points, Escalante second with 189.5 points and Texico third with 186 points.
Escalante blew the competition away April 17, scoring 212 points to 187.5 for Pecos. The Lobos had a combined 401.5 points to the Panthers 380 points. Texico was third with 352 points.
“We got united as a team and gave it our best shot,” sophomore Leah Herrera said.
There were no seniors on this year’s nine-member team, which included Jeremy Atencio, the first male member of the team.
‘At first it was awkward, but now he’s one of us,” Madrid said. “He really helps with the stunts.”
Both Herrera and Madrid plan to cheer next season with Martinez and hope to continue in college. Hererra plans to attend Arizona State University and Madrid the University of New Mexico.
“I love being part of something that makes people happy,” Madrid said.