There is always drama in cheer.
Let me say that again.
THERE IS ALWAYS DRAMA IN CHEER.
Oh, sorry. Was I yelling?
This year's drama is starting early. After all, the 2009-10 squad started practicing in earnest just weeks ago.
Last week, the teams were set and announced. There will be no frosh-soph team this year; only junior varsity and varsity.
My girl? Varsity all the way. No problem.
However ... with no frosh-soph team, this means that all freshmen -- even those who have never cheered before (it does happen) -- are on JV.
Along with everyone else who didn't make varsity.
Including a couple of juniors.
Are you seeing the glimmer of trauma drama that has erupted in cheerland?
One junior in particular who feel that it is U.N.F.A.I.R. to have to be on JV, instead of on varsity with all her friends.
Now, to be absolutely fair, it is a requirement of all varsity members to have a consistent back handspring.
The specific young lady in question? Does not.
At all.
After two years of gymnastics with the team.
And she is upset with a capital UP. In fact, she AND HER MOTHER demanded a meeting with the coach to plead (argue?) her case and get moved to varsity. (It didn't work, by the way.)
I was horrified by this girl's sense of entitlement but, in my usual calm, collected, let's-make-this-a-life-lesson sort of way, decided to probe the Roo-girl's opinions about these events.
"She needs to suck it up," Roo sneered. "And then get a freakin' back handspring."
Love that kid.
Love the picture!! But I can't love the drama. Good luck to you - and Roo - in dealing with all of the trauma, er, drama.
Posted by: Daisy | July 06, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I wonder where that sense of entitlement comes from? And if Mommy wants to help her make varsity THAT badly, she can take her to a gym and help her work on her back handspring, instead of getting in the coach's face. On the other hand - I never much cared for cheer girls - they always walked around with their nose in the air. I am SO glad that our Roo isn't like that.
Posted by: lceel | July 06, 2009 at 01:27 PM
I went to a high school (grades 10-12) where JV was ALWAYS 10th grade and Varsity was always Juniors and Seniors. Until the year I was a junior, that is.
A sophomore was on the Varsity and four juniors stayed on JV a second year. I'm sure it caused some drama, especially the following year when two of those JV girls worked their butts off and became Captain and Co of the Varsity squad.
Roo girl has the right attitude. The other girl? She needs to get practicing to get that back handspring!
Posted by: Suzanne | July 06, 2009 at 02:55 PM
I agree; quit complaining and nail the back handspring.
But there's always drama, isn't there? And it can't be easy to be the only junior on JV...
Posted by: Maureen at IslandRoar | July 06, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Huh. Would you rather your disappointment be something some nasty person did TO you (and thus you can't control), or due to something you did/didn't do -- and thus be able to change it? Entitlement doesn't get you as far as determination. Too bad her mother's not helping her learn that lesson.
Posted by: Ilona | July 06, 2009 at 07:49 PM
teenage girls = drama.
our cheer coach liked to say "leave the drama at the door." there was drama, especially when the captains were named, but she tried to minimize it.
our dance coach, on the other hand, seemed to thrive on the drama.
my older daughter, now in college, (and who had a mean back handspring) still goes back to visit the team.
younger daughter is no longer on the dance team....and is so much happier without the diva drama.
good luck to Roo this year, and I hope she doesn't have to deal with too much drama.
Posted by: songbird | July 06, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Good for the coach for not giving in. In high school we had a girl actually sue the coach because she didn't make the team a second year. I mean SERIOUSLY. Ridiculous. And YAY Roo! She seriously is amazing.
Posted by: Jaina | July 17, 2009 at 05:01 PM