Weber State’s cheerleading team is hoping to win a fifth straight title in Daytona, Florida, where the teams in the Netflix series ‘Cheer’ compete.
Hunter Fangmann transferred to Weber from the University of Kentucky, and found the program much friendlier.
“Rather than worrying about either competitors or other teams that are in your bracket, we just really like to worry about ourselves, and that’s something that I never did at the other colleges,” said Torres, a four-time national champion and three-time grand champion. Ed Moroney, a graduate student who competed all five years of his eligibility with Weber, grew up wrestling and playing football — but he said cheerleading is the hardest thing he’s ever done.
Coach Willis, who has been at Weber State for 23 years, said the competition is scored based on what elements are performed and how well. Creating a routine is a balancing act, literally and figuratively, where every individual performer has a crucial role — and, like a jigsaw puzzle, it’s not complete if a piece is missing.
Perfect routines from Weber State University Spirit Squad members earn the squad a wildcat sticker on the team's megaphone, March 16, 2022. The Weber State University Spirit Squad is in training for the National Cheerleading Championship title in Daytona Beach, April 6-10, 2022. If the team does “hit zero,” they get to add a sticker to the giant white Weber State megaphone that sits next to the speaker. On this day’s practice, three stickers were added.
She built the program from the ground up, and secured the team’s first appearance at NCA in 2008. The Wildcats won their first championship in 2009. Today, the team marks that low point for the program by wearing wristbands with four letters — LSWT — that stand for a rallying cry only team members know. New members get white wristbands without the letters, and earn purple bands that have the letters embroidered on them.
Anuhea Keene, who transferred from the University of Kentucky and has been at Weber for three years, Willis’ commitment to team bonding activities sets the program apart. For example, the team has walked around the parking lot at Walmart, leaving happy notes on people’s windshields.Keene’s favorite bonding activity is the first team dinner of the year, when Willis invites all the athletes to her home.
Willis is a fan of the “Cheer” docuseries, saying it’s putting the sport of cheerleading on the map — and showing it’s a real sport, requiring talent and stamina, and isn’t just a sideline spectacle.gave full recognition
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