I'm curious as to how NJC pays for all this? I'm also curious why Monica hasn't been poached by another college. I know, hometown, raise kids, etc... but her kids look well rounded and grown. She gets team kids for 2 years and the fact she's beaten other 4 yr programs is incredible.
I was a high school cheerleader in the late 80's-90's. Small varsity squad, 8 of us but we had the first male cheerleader on campus so stunts and basket tosses and pyramids were fun. FF to how it's evolved is amazing. My daughter, now 16, did one year of show team and one year of comp, 10 years ago. Not a terrible experience but not worth it to keep going. We stuck with soccer. (Another story). Club cheer is expensive. And what's sadder is the parents doing it for their kids when you know they can't afford it. Jerry's story hit home. One of the moms from my daughters team had both her son and daughter involved and she drove a freakin clunker of a car.
At the time we had just one local option for a gym. The owner had gone to another area high school, so I remembered her from back then. I think she cheered at OkSt. Anyway, that one year my daughter did comp was terrible. The one time they could've gotten first, they were DQ'd for an illegal stunt in the routine. I'd assume the coach and choreographer knew this would be illegal...yeah, we stayed with soccer.
This business is cutthroat. Our gym owner originally had a partner. Partner wanted out, stay home with family and said a "non-compete" was unnecessary. She was done. 2 years later, built a badass new gym on the other side of town and now we have 2 local options. And she's a better coach, IMO.
Gaby's parents are terrible. I get Morgan's dad was a POS but maybe he should have recognized her skills as a child and exploited her on social media and use her to sell bikinis so she wouldn't have to live in a trailer by herself? That said, Gaby has the perfect cheerleader "look". Can't explain it, just see it. I wish she'd realize she's an adult and her parents don't have POA anymore.
I was surprised by the little things that weren't perfect. Morgan's jumps were not good. Allie was a noodle. That's why she'd get dropped. Ladarius in the military may work out? It's sad so much is put into this to only find yourself back at your gym as a coach. It's happened with a friend's son. He actually went to a NJC tryout and was blown out but our local gym woefully prepared him for what's out there.
I hope things workout for Lexi. As a tumbler, she's still on an island. As a stunter, base or flyer, you've got to learn to trust people, even if you do like them.
Rant over.
