Neshoba Central High School Cheerleaders are, kneeling from left, Sadie Martin, Alicia Greenlee, Mallory Chunn, Marley Bell, Baylor Coggins and Shelby Berry. Standing are Ericka Coats, Sierra Anderson, Marlee Washington, Hattie Hicks, Mary Lee Williams, Blair Whittle, Katie Denton and Meredith Burrage.
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”
--Vince Lombardi
After a disappointing first round, the Neshoba Central High School Cheerleaders “left it all on the mat” the second day to place in a national competition.
The squad placed fourth in the National Cheerleaders Association’s High School Cheerleading Championship in Dallas, Te
This is the fourth year that the squad has placed in the top five of a national championship.
“We struggled more than ever in a competition on the first day,” said Coach Nikki Morrow. “Our timing was off. We fell. If it had been a practice, we would have stopped and refocused.”
Morrow called a team meeting the morning before the second round.
“We knew we couldn’t get first place,” she said. “I told them they had two options. They could cower down and give up or go and do their best and prove to themselves that they can hit their routine.”
The squad had a great performance afterwards, with scores moving up in every category.
The overall winning team scored 96.96 while Neshoba scored 94.97.
“We scored tremendously better the second day,” Morrow said.
The squad was also a nominee for the “Go Be Great” award which was based on community service for their Rocket Dollar Drive fundraiser for Batson Children’s Hospital.
The Neshoba squad also received the Cheer Showmanship Award presented by the judges to an outstanding squad in all areas including jumps, motions, voice, dance and stunting.
Morrow was really pleased overall with the girls’ performance.
“I think it was just their nerves the first day,” she said. “They work so hard all year and only get one chance at it. It’s still a young squad. They stepped up. They were going to do it to prove to themselves that they can finish what they started. To me it showed a lot of character in every one of them.”
Morrow said the competition was as hard for her as it was for the squad.
“It’s always hard for me when they don’t meet the potential they have for themselves,” she said. “It’s hard to hit a routine knowing you are down. It was great to see that much character in my girls. It made a lasting impact on me for sure.”
Senior Mallory Chunn said it was the best feeling she ever had after the second day of competition.
“Knowing we left everything we had on that mat made me super proud,” she said. “The excitement cannot be put into words when you know you just went out there and gave it your all. Proving we could hit it, when no one else thought we could, made it even better. We didn’t have to prove it to the judges, parents or families back home, we just needed to do it for ourselves.”
Chunn said knowing that day two’s scores were counted higher than day one “kept me positive knowing if we hit we could definitely move up a few places. We had to communicate and learn from our mistakes on day one.”
Junior Mary Lee Williams said the squad had to have the right attitude and mindset.
“The feelings I had after the hit on day two were just unreal,” Williams said. “The way we all came together as a team and proved to ourselves that this routine could be done felt like the biggest accomplishment.”
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She said all the squad’s hard work and dedication was finally put to recognition.
“I could not have been more proud of the way we rebounded back with a fierce attitude,” Williams said.
“Re-watching the video of the routine, as the last stunt hit the pyramid, you can just see everyone’s face light up with excitement.”
Chunn said she was proud of her team for coming together and not giving up.
“This team is so talented and I cannot wait to see what they will do next year,” she said.
Chunn was recently named valedictorian of Neshoba Central’s 2022 graduating class.
--Story by Debbie Burt Myers