Photo by Alicia Keene.
The Texas Tech University coed cheer and pom squad hope to bring home a national title this week, despite a shaky showcase performance by the cheer squad.
Each squad performed its 2013 national competition routines at a free showcase on Thursday at the United Spirit Arena.
Both squads will travel to Daytona Beach, Fla. April 11-12 to compete in the National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Association Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships.
During the cheer squad’s performance, the pyramid stunt fell. Cheerleader Tanner Lyday, a junior exercise and sport science major from Lewisville, Texas, said he thinks the team is in a good spot in spite of the incident.
“One of the things with these kind of routines is you want to peak at the right time,” Lyday said. “You don’t want everything to be perfect too long before you go to the competition because that gives things time to kind of work their way down.”
Lyday said the cheer team hopes to show it is one of the best programs in the nation at the competition.
“We’re expecting to win,” Lyday said.
He said he is looking forward to seeing old friends and putting the Double T in front of the nation.
Lyday said a live feed will be online so people can watch, along with updates on the team’s Twitter and Instagram.
Pom squad member Courtney Craig, a freshman public relations major from Flower Mound, Texas, said the showcase performance helped her get a feel for performing in front of an audience.
“It was a good practice and warm up for what it’s going to be like in Daytona,” Craig said.
This will be the pom squad’s first time at the national competition with a coach, she said.
Craig said the squad is feeling pretty good about its routine and chances.
“I think we’re in a really good place, feeling pretty confident, but, you know, it can always get better,” Craig said. “We have a few more days, and we’re getting there.”
She said she is looking forward to seeing what it is like to be in Daytona with college teams from all over the country.
Craig said she thinks performing is fun, and she tries not to let the audience and her nerves affect her too much.
“It’s so much fun,” she said. “It’s incredible. I can’t even explain. I love performing. It’s so exciting.”
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