By: Brooke Joly – MCHS Life & News Editor
As the wonderful Friday night football lights begin to dim, Rally Squad transitions from cheering for the crowd to preparing to perform in front of judges, aiming for a first-place seat at Nationals in Anaheim.
Image of the full Rally Squad Team (Photo Courtesy of Moreau Catholic Rally Squad’s Instagram)
Rally Squad competes in the Showcheer category, which means that they will shout a chant, then proceed with a routine filled with dances, stunts, and tumbling. This routine is jam-packed with skills to elevate and entertain the crowd.
During Rally Squad’s Practice, the Coaches are very committed to pushing their athletes to excellence. Conditioning and cardio are present in their daily workouts. As competition season approaches, practices have intensified with longer run-throughs, repeated stunt sequences, and extended conditioning sessions to make sure the team can hit the routine flawlessly when it matters most. Coach Vanessa and Coach Priscilla look for progress, effort, and a good attitude at every practice. If you come unprepared to practice, be prepared to run!
Varsity Captain Valeria Peraza says, “I noticed that the team was a lot more focused on sharpening their movements. For football season, no judges are critiquing your every move, and it’s freer. However, Rally Squad really wants to win first place, so every movement is done with precision and energy.”
Competition Season 2024-2025 (Photo Courtesy of Moreau Catholic Rally Squad’s Instagram)
What makes this transition even more challenging is the pressure of performing under the eyes of trained judges. During competitions, Judges look for execution, synchronization, facial expressions, and technical skill! Every movement is scored. For many athletes, this raises the stakes but also fuels their motivation. Knowing that months of work come down to two minutes and thirty seconds keeps them going.
Photo Courtesy of Assistant Cheer Coach, Priscilla Borja
Competition season usually runs from November to February, and Basketball season is in the midst of it all. Learning a routine, competing three times, and traveling to Anaheim is a lot of work and time. Yet, a fun and exciting Disneyland experience is what many of the Rally Squad members anticipate. After the Song and Cheer squad performs at the Anaheim Convention Center, the team can enjoy a day at Disneyland to bond! Valeria Peraza continues by saying, “I am so excited for this competition season because last year I wasn’t able to attend, so this year, being my last year and as a head captain, I am looking forward to making memories and giving it my all on the stage.”
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