April 5, 2007
We feel confident going into nationals. Our near flawless routine Monday night at our dress rehearsal was just what we needed to help settle our nerves and fuel our desire to win. We can feel how close we are now. We plan on riding this high all the way to Daytona and hit two perfect routines. I am so proud of every one of teammates, who have made so many sacrifices and given everything they could to prepare for this. We have a great chemistry on the floor, and we are so excited to show it off in Daytona. We are focused, and we are ready to defend our title.
~Laura Chiriaco
My experiences at the University of Maryland have been great, including my time on the competitive cheer squad. I'm proud to be named a national champion and represent for the team and University. However, I'm ambivalent towards Nationals this year. I feel confident that as a senior I'll have a great time performing in Daytona, but I am most certain that it will be very emotional for me; whether we finish undefeated or just short of the mark. With this being my last year on the squad I feel that I have certain expectations, or a higher standard to own up to. As a national champion you have to uphold your reputation; this is why I know that nationals this year will be even more nerve racking. There will be thousands of spectators, and very concise judging, so the pressure is on. Although I feel very nervous and anxious, I am very much so excited about competing for my last time as a Maryland Terrapin. Reflecting on this past season, I've noticed much advancement. We continued to add more difficulty to the routine, and I could see myself and my teammates adjusting triumphantly to the changes. I could see myself changing on and off the mat. My coaches have also tolerated my changes, and helped tweak my personality, which makes me an even better person for the team and others. They stressed for me to be more open and outgoing, and over these past four years, I've done that with the help and support of my coaches, teammates, and family. The girls this year were great, and I can honestly say I had a great year!!! The incoming freshmen are phenomenal, and I know that I've left them a legacy that they'll be sure to sustain. Nationals will be a piece of cake!
-Mimi Cuff
After this season's string of competitions varying from exciting and impressive to lackluster and disappointing, I'm so happy to say that we are finally ready for Nationals. All the hard work we've put in all season, especially enduring the grueling practices these last few weeks, couldn't have paid off at a more perfect time. After our performance for our friends, family, and fans, we proved to ourselves that we can perform to the best of our abilities, both individually and collectively, when it counts the most. I'm so proud that we worked together, focused on the parts that had caused some troubles, and excelled in every aspect of the routine. Our confidence has soared, our spirits are high, and that's exactly how we need to be feeling going into nationals. I'm excited, my teammates are excited, and we're all anxious to get down there and show off what we've worked so hard for all year long. I'm confident that we'll do our best and I have no doubts that we're ready to defend our title.
By: Janelle Corrie
Two weeks ago, the team was struggling to keep spirits high during a hard week of practices away from home while the rest of the student body enjoyed spring break. But after a flawless performance last night in front of our friends and family, we are well ready to defend our national title in Daytona. Butterflies are starting to appear at the thought of the culmination of all our hard work this year; however, the team feels confident in our routine and in the team's abilities. Nationals will provide us with the stiff competition we have been looking for all season and will give us the opportunity to thrive under the intense pressure of upholding our current first place standing. We are all anxious to leave Maryland so that we can compete and have fun together in sunny Florida!
~Lindsay Waldron
After last night's performance I feel SO ready for 2007 Nationals. Before last night I was getting worried because I wasn't sure if all of my teammates were in the right mindset. We have been working so hard this year--especially in the last few weeks--and I could tell that we were all feeling physically tired. Even though we've had some good routines recently, we still hadn't hit a PERFECT routine before last night.
Last night's performance got me so excited to compete this weekend. This will be my last time competing at Nationals--I'm graduating in May--and I know we are going to end our season, and my cheer-career, on a positive note. I am most looking forward to performing at Finals on Friday. The best part is competing on stage at the beach in front of thousands of people shouting "TERPS". I know everyone is expecting a show from us this year since we won last year. I'm sure we will give it to them.
By: Tiffani Otey
To be going to nationals as a freshman on the competitive cheerleading team is probably one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me. I'm not going to lie, I am nervous, but we couldn't be any more ready to do what we have to do and become national champions once again. The team has worked so hard, and has put in one hundred percent at every practice to be ready for Daytona. Just going down there is going to be an amazing experience but to compete and defend our national championship makes it more exciting then ever. We have come a long way from where we were in the beginning of the year and I do not think that we could be any more prepared for this. Between all of the practices and hard work, we are ready to defend our national title. It is hard to believe that the time has come to go to Daytona, but it is here and we are ready to show how our hard work has paid off.
~Joanna Venezia
