The excitement of Disney World, the rush of adrenaline, and the nerves of competition are only a small part of the UCA Cheerleading Nationals in Orlando, Florida. Teams from across the country join together in Disney World for one weekend to prove their year’s worth of hardwork and to fight for a National Champion title, a sparkling gold medal, and the enfamous white, satin jacket. After the long 13 hour bus ride, extra practices on the Allstar Resort’s football field filled with cheerleaders, and many prayers and motivational speeches, competition day has finally arrived. The morning begins with tightly braiding hair, passing around the fire red lipstick, and squeezing into the adorable uniforms. Nerves start to kick in more and more as warmups get closer.  Cheerleaders are everywhere; screaming, cheering, practicing, and sleeping.  Millions of hairsprayed, dolled up, skirt wearing athletes join together for the most massive cheerleading competition of the year, and my team, Archbishop Rummel, is minutes away from competing.
Next thing I know, I am behind the competition floor, stretching for warmups.  The team practices each part of the routine, but my extension will not stop dropping.  I am overwhelmed with fear of falling on the competition matt.  My stunt group practices the stunt over and over again, but everytime the stunt falls, I become less and less confident.  The team is telling my stunt group to believe and work together.  Times up, warmups are over. My lips are quivering, and my body is consumed with nerves.  The word “goodluck” are going straight through my head.  The team waits on the side of the matt, and finally, the moment we have all been working for has arrived.  The team huddles up, says the team prayer, and screams the team chant. The announcer calls, “Archbishop Rummel Highschool,” and I make the Sign of the Cross, grab my red and blue pompoms and big “A” sign, and run onto the matt yelling “Go Raiders!”  Lights shining, cameras everywhere, and all eyes staring ready to watch, and as soon as I step foot on the large, blue matt, all my fear disappears immediately. The red, Rummel uniforms fill the floor as the team spreads out into the set formation.  First comes the cheer, and everything hits! Next is the chant, and the routine still has zero deductions.  Last comes the band dance, which I struggled with in warmups, but I tell myself I can do it.  The music begins, the few teammates watching on the floor are cheering for me, and my stunt group is ready.  The stunt dips, I hold my sign tightly, squeeze my whole body, and the stunt is a hit! The seriousness and fear across my face quickly turns into a giant smile.  The coaches are jumping up and down, screaming, and clapping because all the stunts are in the air.  I hit my sign and all my motions sharply, along with every other flyer.  The routine is over, and I shake my sign in the air while my group pops me down.  My teammates grab and hug me, and my coaches run to me and pick me up.  The happiness is radiating off my face, and all the nerves are gone.  Hitting a perfect routine in front of millions of people after months of hard work and dedication is one of the best feelings in the world, but the best is yet to come. 
Although the moment on the matt has passed, awards are next to come, and the team is anxious to find out who won.  Hours pass by in between the competition and the award ceremony.  Finally, the moment has arrived.  The announcer calls out each competing team onto the matt, and the cheerleaders kneel.  Anxiety is filling the room.  The crowd is watching as colorful uniforms and pretty bows fill up the matt.  Teams are yelling chants and dancing while waiting for awards to start. The announcer quiets the building.  He calls out each division seperately, and finally my teams division is about to be revealed.  He starts with last place and finishes with first.  As each place is revealed, screams and cries of both excitement and disappointment echo in the arena.  Second place is about to be announced and Rummel still has not been called.  The emotions of nerves and excitement are running through the team’s veins as we all squeeze hands and pray for the big win.  He announced second place and the trophy did not go to Rummel.  The excitement fills us, and the team is holding in their cheers.  Tears of joy are running out our eyes, and the team awaits their champion title to be awarded.  The annoucer leans into the microphone and says, “And your 2015 National Champions are Archbishop Rummel Highschool!”  The team jumps up and tackles eachother while screaming with joy.  Winning is a feeling that cannot be replaced.  All eyes are directly on Rummel.  We grab the tall first place trophy and touch it.  Next, we run backstage to receive the famous and envied white satin jackets that every cheerleader would die for.  We all rip open the packages, and plastic bags are flying everywhere.  The team puts on the jackets and celebrates the great success.  Flashes of light are coming from every direction, and Rummel is being treated like celebrities.  Team pictures, individual pictures, and many more pictures are being taken.  The gold medals are distributes, and everyone quickly puts them on.  The pride and success is shining off of our faces. We walk out the arena and the crowd is clapping.  The next stop is Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the glory of winning continues throughout the night. 
Hitting the stunt, winning the competiton, and wearing the white jackets combine to make up one of the best memories of my life.  Along with the other prized possessions Rummel received for winning, the team will also receive champion rings.  Winning nationals was wonderful, but walking through the parks after the win was another memorable part of nationals. As we prance confidently around the park, eyes are glued on our white jackets.  The team is told congradulations by complete strangers left and right.  The feeling of everyone looking up to your team and admiring your team for winning is an amazing feeling.  Strangers were asking to touch and try on our white jackets.  The feeling of winning nationals may never come again, but at that unforgettable moment, no one could take away the hard work, success, and title of 2015 National Champions from the Rummel cheerleaders.