 "Photo: Bernard Upshaw")
The University of West Georgia’s cheerleading teams recently headed to Orlando for the hopes of bringing home another trophy, but they held one final performance before they left.
On Wednesday, Jan. 13, the UWG’s cheerleading teams held Family & Friends Night as a preview to show off the teams’ national routines. Almost 400 people came out to see the performances and to show their support.
“We have been having this event since we started competing,” said Scott Brown, coach and former UWG cheerleader.
The Coliseum is their newest venue to perform in, and Family & Friends Night was the teams’ most successful turnout, a fact that helps to boost their morale.
“It definitely helps the teams,” said Brown. “The more people the better.”
The All-Girl and Co-ed teams have been practicing their competition routines for months. They even worked to perfect their moves over the Christmas break, sacrificing time spent with families and friends. No one was injured over the numerous hours of rehearsal, and the routines came together nicely.
Prior to the performance, audience members watched as the cheerleaders warmed up. They did back flips, back tucks, full layouts, basket tosses and several other impressive moves that the crowd applauded.
After both teams performed their routines, two team members came together to perform a couple’s routine. They will also be competing in Orlando on Friday in a division for couples.
Their short routine filled the crowd with awe as the male team member held his partner over his head with only one arm, turning her from one hand to the other, switching legs and maintaining perfect control.
Currently, the Co-ed team has won eight national championships consecutively while the All-Girl team has won four in the past seven years. Each team has high hopes of bringing home another trophy over the weekend.
Coach Brown has overseen UWG’s cheerleading teams for three years and has already seen them obtain great success. He said he plans on coaching at UWG until his hair turns gray. And, he added, he also sees more national titles in the future.
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