Goings To Semis

We made it to the arena just a short time before our session was supposed to start.  Last year was a little chaotic, but I am glad to report that in contrast to last year’s competition this year they figured out how to keep things moving.  Part of it was that all the results were announced in a different venue (the baseball stadium across the way).  That way, UCA kept things right on schedule, or at the very least within roughly five minutes of the scheduled time.

Our girls were slotted in the first ten performances, or so.  And unlike the last couple of years, we have learned that you don’t need to sit in the venue for the entire session.  We were there for a short time before, and then as soon as the girls were done, we cleared out of there and went to hang out someplace else.  This kept the crowds in the venue small, and we were able to get a good spot for the girls’ performance.  And we didn’t have to sit thru the rest of the teams waiting for the results to be announced.  We saw the girls shortly after they performed, and then went over to wait for the results announcement.

As far as the performance went…  they were on.  The cheer went well, the dance and tumbling was great.  There were a couple of small wobbles, but for the most part they were perfect.  

One thing that I thought was not really fair is that they get judged on crowd participation.  One of the first teams that went were from Jacksonville, FL.  They had a LARGE contingent of fans, and why not?  They are only about a two hour drive away.  They were very, very loud and raucous.  As opposed to us, who had pretty much just the parent contingent to cheer on the girls.

The results?  Well we ended up making the Semi-Finals.  I should add there were three sessions for Ali’s division, and a total of I think 54 teams?  That’s a rough number.  But 50% of the teams make the semis.  And then they pare that down to 15 teams for the final.  This year (as opposed to when Ali’s team made semis when she was a freshman) they got to celebrate.  Two years ago, the announcer botched their name, Menomonee Falls.  Everyone was sort of sitting around like, was that us?  This year we were announced about midway thru the teams, and they got the name right.  So it was very exciting for the girls!  Congratulations, now on to the Semis!