Over the weekend, the National High School Cheerleading Championships were held just outside Disney World at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and many local teams had a lot to cheer about. But none more than St. Hubert High School.
All three of the Bambies’ teams earned medals in their groups. The JV Gold team took third in the nation, the varsity team finished runner-up and for the second year in a row, the JV Brown team emerged as national champions.
It was a lot of work, but it couldn’t have had a better payoff.
“The best thing is everybody finished top three,” said Bambies coach Lisa McNesby. “Some years, you have a great showing for one team, but another one goes home disappointed. This year, everyone is happy.”
The coach was proud, and the girls were even happier.
“As a team, we put so much work in and there is no better feeling than getting the type of results we deserve,” said senior Taylor O’Connor, a four-year member of the team. ”I’m forever grateful to have been a part of something so special that I can look back on and remember my high school career by.”
All three of the teams did themselves proud, but they also did their school and everyone associated with it proud. And not just by bringing home medals.
“After it was announced that the varsity team finished second, they waited,” said St. Hubert president Lizanne Pando, who went to the competition in Florida. “They went up to the winning team and congratulated them. It was so great to see. As soon as I saw that, I thought they truly are champions. They are people of integrity and faith.”
McNesby was also happy to see other local teams succeed, including St. Matt’s, which took eighth in the nation in its group, and Ryan, which also took eighth in the Super Varsity Division 2. But her biggest thrill could have been seeing Crispin win its division. One of the cheerleaders on that team is Allie, her daughter.
“She’s been there every year, but this was the first time she competed,” McNesby said. “I had fun watching her. It was a lot of running around, but it really was a great trip.
“It was such a special weekend. There were so many people, friends, family members supporting us. And we had people following along at home (on social media). The girls put in a lot of work, so that makes it special.”
