Goodbye Swim, Hello Cheer!

Last week was high school cheerleading tryouts for next year. Now, Peyton has been doing cheer since the 3rd grade. Remember, my previous post about her not wanting me to sign her up for cheerleading in the 8th grade? Luckily, I didn't listen to her (sometimes we have to go with our gut). She did do 8th grade cheer after getting over being mad at me for signing her up and had an absolute blast doing it. (I told her that if she had any inkling at that time of trying out for cheer in high school then she could not quit her last year before high school.)

Well, these tryouts were no joke. They had to tumble (probably her weakest element but she's working on it and actually is super strong from swim and can do a walking handstand) and working on a back walk over and back handspring. Then they had to have really good jumps (she does); be a good stunter (she is a base and strong); perform a very, very fast and hard dance (created by the current Varsity Cheer Captain who also happened to be her 8th grade high school cheer coach); and lastly perform a cheer. I guess I should mention you also had to fill out questions about why you wanted to be a high school cheerleader AND get two recommendations from current teachers including your PE teacher. 

We agreed she would tryout for basketball cheer only since swimming (something she's also been doing since the 3rd grade) is a fall sport and I really wanted her to try high school swim for at least her freshman year. However, unbeknownst to me til much later she told the coach that she would do both seasons (and to be fair they did say you had a better chance of making it if you did both seasons). 

So she practiced, went to clinics and tumbling class, and last Thursday she performed at the final tryout. We get an email a little before 9pm that evening saying that she made it! She was beyond excited. She did work very, very hard for this and wanted it so bad. But, I think mostly so she wouldn't have to swim anymore! She's free! Almost. She still has to complete her spring/early summer club season where she will swim mostly just practices to keep in shape. She is signed up to compete in only one meet but she's done. Hates her coach there and is realistic about where she would be on a high school with a swim team that is always in the top five in state. She's a good swimmer - just not nearly as good as some of these superstars at our high school and on her club team. I guess I can't blame her. She wanted to work at something she has a chance at and good for her for going after it. She says she's not giving up the pool entirely though - plans to pursue some water polo and eventually be a lifeguard so I guess all that swimming was good for something besides exercise!

Anyway, congrats to P on making JV Cheer!  

Hailey Striking Out Players at the Mound

Hailey started her spring softball season after spring break and is loving her time on the field. We got her a new bat and helmet and she's wearing Austen's old Under Armour baseball cleats. She's armed with snacks in her bag for the team (sunflower seeds which is a team favorite) and chomping on some Big League chew. 

Just take the pic!

It's a growing and learning season for sure as the girls are now pitching! She had to pitch one of the first games (they're giving all the girls a try) and she did great - striking out a few of her friends on the other team. She's up to pitch again tomorrow so fingers crossed she does as well. 

At bat, she's been able to hit off the other team's pitchers as well as the coach pitch (if the team pitcher gets 4 balls in the count then the coach steps in and pitches). She's got to get those arms up to get even more power in that hit but her team is doing great. They are undefeated so far this season. She's loving the eye black and hanging out with girls who aren't from her school (she has two classmates on her team this year) but she knew most of them before anyway from other sports. They use a draft system so it's unlikely all girls from the same school will end up on the same team anyway. 

Tom is helping out in the dug out and keeping "the book" which has saved the team when the other team contested the score and their book was nowhere as neat as Tom's book! I guess it pays to have older kids who played baseball or softball and you've done "the book" before and know the correct way to keep it. It was the difference in one of their first games winning 8-7. 

Anyway, these Vipers (team name) are off to a great season! 

The Vipers!