SOMERS, N.Y. - The Somers 14U Cheer Team arrived in Orlando on Dec. 3 for the American Youth Cheerleading Nationals with high expectations and even higher pressure. After finishing third last year, the team knew qualifying for the second day of competition would be no easy task.
“Everyone was on pins and needles,” said head coach Stephanie Sullivan. “But the only sharpness that mattered was our routine.”
After two days of practice, Somers was one of just five teams to advance to Day Two. When the final results were announced, the team erupted with excitement.
“They called us second, and we lost it,” Sullivan said.
The four-day trip began under ominous circumstances, with a snowstorm threatening travel plans out of Westchester Airport.
“But we made it down there,” Sullivan said with relief. Once in Orlando, the team fine-tuned its routine, took time to unwind with a visit to Universal Studios, and returned to the arena on Friday feeling confident.
This year, the team was no longer flying under the radar.
“Last year, nobody knew who we were,” Sullivan said. “This year, we were a really big somebody.”
That recognition, however, did little to ease the pressure of knowing they had only one chance to perform
“It was 1,000 percent pressure,” she said. “Our mantra is two minutes and 30 seconds of perfection.”
Performing in front of a crowd of more than 11,000 spectators played to Somers’ strengths.
“They thrive in front of a crowd,” Sullivan said. Still, the wait for results tested everyone’s nerves.
“Three or four hours felt endless,” she said. “It was painful.”
Advancing to Day Two, the team set a simple goal: finish in the top three. Their confident performance on Saturday made that goal feel well within reach.
“Knowing they could compete with the top teams changed everything,” Sullivan said. “They looked so much more confident.”
Sullivan called the routine one of her favorites in recent memory, praising the team’s energy and execution. A lengthy delay while other squads finished competing stretched the suspense even further.
When results were finally announced at 8:30 p.m., Sullivan remained calm even as third place was called without Somers’ name.
“I was pretty confident we placed,” she said.
Moments later, the announcement confirmed it: Somers had finished second in the nation.
“We’re number two in the country,” Sullivan said proudly. For the Somers 14U Cheer Team, three cheers hardly seemed enough.
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