November 07, 2019 at 12:41AM
The regional in which Lewis County High School competes in Class AA is among the toughest in the state for most sports. That goes double for cheerleading, but the LCHS cheerleaders know a thing or two about toughness and are looking to make a return to the West Virginia State Cheerleading Championships with a strong performance this weekend in Martinsburg.
The 11-member team has been prepping for the regional since it formed in August, and have been spending the final week tirelessly going through their routine in hopes of again earning that coveted berth at the state competition. It's hard and often dangerous work with bumps and bruises nearly guaranteed, and other more severe injuries do often occur. That's what makes the concept held by some that cheerleading "isn't a sport" especially galling for head coach Beth Nichols.
"Before you say cheerleading isn't a sport, you need to come down to one of our practices and see the work we put in and things we do," Nichols said, adding that many of the members of her team could be standouts in other sports if they chose to do so.
Honestly, cheerleading is one of the toughest sports out there," Taylor McDougal the team's lone senior added. McDougal has had injuries throughout her career to prove how tough it can be, including several concussions.
The mental aspect of cheerleading can also be tough with an entire year's worth of work coming down to a single two minute and thirty second performance at regionals. Assistant coach Nichols noted that other sports can afford to have an off night and not jeopardize their season but the same can't be said for cheerleaders.
"We've had our routine since August and have been practicing six days a week for three hours a day, but it all comes down to one performance. In other sports, you usually have a chance to redeem yourself.We don't have that. We've got to be on," Nichols said
"It's stressful and emotional all at the same time," McDougal said, adding that the quality of the competition and the fact that some people might not be expecting Lewis County to be one of the two teams to qualify for the state competition in Huntington in December as a real motivating factor for herself and her teammates.
The team is holding a Regionals Spirit week at the school with PJ Day, Coach Beth Day, Tie Dye/Hippy Day, and a Blue and Gray day to let students have a fun way to show their support of the team ahead of this weekend's competition.
The regional in which Lewis County High School competes in Class AA is among the toughest in the state for most sports. That goes double for cheerleading, but the LCHS cheerleaders know a thing or two about toughness and are looking to make a return to the West Virginia State Cheerleading Championships with a strong performance this weekend in Martinsburg.
The 11-member team has been prepping for the regional since it formed in August, and have been spending the final week tirelessly going through their routine in hopes of again earning that coveted berth at the state competition. It's hard and often dangerous work with bumps and bruises nearly guaranteed, and other more severe injuries do often occur. That's what makes the concept held by some that cheerleading "isn't a sport" especially galling for head coach Beth Nichols.
"Before you say cheerleading isn't a sport, you need to come down to one of our practices and see the work we put in and things we do," Nichols said, adding that many of the members of her team could be standouts in other sports if they chose to do so.
Honestly, cheerleading is one of the toughest sports out there," Taylor McDougal the team's lone senior added. McDougal has had injuries throughout her career to prove how tough it can be, including several concussions.
The mental aspect of cheerleading can also be tough with an entire year's worth of work coming down to a single two minute and thirty second performance at regionals. Assistant coach Nichols noted that other sports can afford to have an off night and not jeopardize their season but the same can't be said for cheerleaders.
"We've had our routine since August and have been practicing six days a week for three hours a day, but it all comes down to one performance. In other sports, you usually have a chance to redeem yourself.We don't have that. We've got to be on," Nichols said
"It's stressful and emotional all at the same time," McDougal said, adding that the quality of the competition and the fact that some people might not be expecting Lewis County to be one of the two teams to qualify for the state competition in Huntington in December as a real motivating factor for herself and her teammates.
The team is holding a Regionals Spirit week at the school with PJ Day, Coach Beth Day, Tie Dye/Hippy Day, and a Blue and Gray day to let students have a fun way to show their support of the team ahead of this weekend's competition.
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