Cheerleading teams bring spirit to Carson City

They brought it.

Some 900 Nevada teens representing 60 schools from across the state descended upon the Carson High School gym Saturday, rocking the house with stunts, cheers and choreography that would make Paula Abdul jealous, during the third annual Silver State Spirit Championships.

Oh, and by the way, don't call them cheerleaders.

Call them athletes.

"That's right," said Terrie McNutt, tournament director and NIAA state spirit rules interpreter. "These young men and women work year-round for the sport. They're as serious as any prep athlete. They work harder, go harder and compete more than just about any sport out there."

While cheerleading as a sport during the last decade has been accepted more into the mainstream vernacular thanks to televised national competitions on ESPN, the sport statewide is "just starting to gain recognition" one cheerleading mom said Saturday.

"I think, where we're from, people are slowly starting to come around and see what our girls do," said Kelli Porter, who traveled with her daughter and 15 others from Boulder City or the competition. "A lot of what we do is funded out-of-pocket, because it still doesn't get the attention quite like football or other sports.

"The girls are out there every weekend: bake sales; car washes; mini cheer camps for younger girls " not to mention year-round practice, practice, practice."

Indeed, Saturday's event was the "make-or-break" competition of the year, said Lindsey Steepleton, 17, a Junior from Lowry High's dance team.

"This is the big one," she said. "It's pretty nerve-wracking; all these teams are here, and they're all so good. But it's interesting to compete. It's interesting to see what other teams are doing."

Lindsey's teammates Amanda Dyches, 17, a junior, and Megan Gardella, 16, also a junior, shook their legs nervously to the beat of the Jackpot High team competing on the gym floor below their perch in the gym's bleachers.

Each applied last-minute make-up and sighed heavily before getting up to perform their routine.

"This is it," Amanda said. "For all these teams this is the day."

Arriving shortly before noon was the host Carson High Senator squad.

Dressed in fresh, white sweatsuits, hair pulled back and smiling as soon as they set foot through their school's threshold, the mission, assistant coach Kara Stephenson said, "was simple."

"We're here to show the rest of the state who we are, we're here to represent " right girls?" said the Carson alum, a coach of six years.

The squad confidently echoed their coach's sentiment, before breaking into sincere banter about what it means to host the competition.

"It means we gotta show up today," said Chantel Good, 16, a sophomore. "It means all eyes are on us as the host and we're going to perform."

And show up the Senators did, taking runner-up in the all girl stunt category.

Brittany Bacon, 17, a senior and a veteran of all three state meets, said it's always "a good thing" to have the meet at home, but with it comes a little added pressure.

"Do we feel it, sure," she said. "But our hope is for the school to recognize us and the hard work we put in. It's nice to have the community see us in the spotlight."

And while the squad collectively felt it was their duty to be gracious hostesses, during the competition, they were all about business.

"After we (perform) we'll make sure to mingle with the other squads and maybe show a few people Carson," said coach Stephenson. "But for today " we're all about business."

- Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.