MATT VINES, The DeSoto Parish Journal
STONEWALL – Outside in the heat alongside the football team.
In the weightroom over the summer.
Clearing out space in the cafeteria to work on their routine because of space restrictions.
If you were on the North DeSoto High campus over the summer or fall, chances are you saw the NDHS cheerleading team putting in the hours.
That hard work paid off as North DeSoto won the national championship in the Novice Varsity Crowd Leading Large division at the National Cheerleaders Association High School Nationals this past weekend in Dallas.
To watch video of their performance, click here or visit North DeSoto High’s Facebook page.
The Griffins took home “black jackets,” – similar to the green jacket awarded to the winner of The Masters – in just their third season of national competition as a program.
“While no performance will ever be perfect, both performances we had at nationals were pretty close,” said NDHS cheerleading coach Emilie Parker. “The girls executed extremely well and implemented every small change that we made in the weeks leading up to the performance.
“There were small moments that most may not even notice that the girls could have allowed a stunt to fall or could have been lazy on small piece that would have changed the outcome of the entire weekend, but they fought hard for their skills and did what was necessary to win.”
North DeSoto scored a 97.334 overall en route to winning division awards in Best Use of Tumbling and Best Showmanship.
“I believe that showmanship piece is what elevated us,” Parker said. “The judges commented that we set ourselves apart with genuine school spirit, strong and difficult stunt sequences and well-timed and executed jumps.
“This team has worked incredibly hard to get to this point in numerous weather conditions and locations as well. We used the cafeteria and could only run half our routine because of limited space, but regardless of the situation, these girls made it work.”
Preparation consisted of up to 15 hours per week, which included weightlifting and conditioning as well as cheer-specific practices like tumbling and stunting.
“We were able to win a national championship in our third season of competition through the hard work of our team members,” said Parker, who has been the program’s coach since 2018. “They knew the ultimate goal was to win a national championship and how much time and effort that would take.
“Every team member was up to the challenge.”
Captains Briley Pendleton and Regan Davlin led a senior class that included Meredith Roberts, Madison Richardson, Rileigh Falls, Kloe Kennington, Mikayla Mondello and Molly Wiley.
The junior class consists of Macy Wiley, Anna Giddens, Katie Enloe, Abby McInnis, Madelyn Stringer, Katelyn Cory and manager Lacy Carney.
On the sophomore roll call – Raelee Browning, Carsyn Curtis, Mattie Sue Cross, Kadyn Fuller, Ellie Wagner and Mackenzie Falls.
Freshmen on the team included Makenzie Longoria, Aubrey Woolard, Jaliyah Brown, Emmaleigh Brown, Emma Derrick and Emma Stringer.
While the girls are still basking in the glow of a national title, thoughts are already turning to next year.
Tryouts for next year’s team are in the first week of February, and Parker has already reserved her favorite choreographer for next year’s routine.
“We are losing nine seniors who are such great workers and examples for our underclassmen, but we have a great group of girls returning and coming up from our middle school program,” Parker said. “We will enjoy this victory for a few weeks and then get right back to work!”