On the sidelines with Lake Orion cheerleading captain Georgia Curtis
LAKE ORION, Mich. — 鈥淲ork until you get it right, then work until you never get it wrong,鈥� that was the best advice Lake Orion Varsity Cheerleader, Georgia Curtis received from her former coach Gary Willick, who unfortunately passed away this last year.
鈥淗e was the rock of our team and the motivation to our success,鈥� Curtis added,鈥� Gary has inspired me to carry on his legacy in our program and implement this advice into our practice and competitions. His advice helped our team realize that we always must strive for perfection and consistency, and this season I have worked to carry this lesson throughout our team.鈥�
The Senior Captain, who鈥檚 been involved in the sport for the past five years, explained to be good at the sport takes a lot of time and effort that include practicing nine months of the year.
鈥淲hile the bonds you make and skills you achieve in a season is exciting, the amount of time it takes to be exceptional is a challenge that all cheerleaders face. Being competitive in our sport does not come easy, if you don鈥檛 do something right the first time you do it a hundred times to get it perfect, and still its sometimes not achieved,鈥� she noted. 鈥淕etting a group of 12-16 girls to do everything in sync and to perfection takes a lot of discipline, therefore one of the biggest challenges that comes with cheerleading is the time and determination to look perfect.鈥�
The perfection comes through their practice time during the week, Curtis said, discussing mistakes and how to make fix them so that it will look perfect by the time their competition rolls around that following Saturday. Despite the number of hours of practice, mistakes still can be made both on an individual level as well as a team level.
鈥淭here have been many mistakes I have personally made at competitions that discourage me a little, I feel like I let my team down. Although, I remember that I can鈥檛 let that get the best of me because I always have another chance to prove myself, I work really hard to overcome these mistakes by constantly practicing to become consistent, so that at the next competition the pressure doesn鈥檛 mess me up,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s a team we have come close to many victories and then made a mistake and fall short, but we all have to remember we can go back in the gym and practice so that it doesn鈥檛 happen again.
To get themselves mentally prepared, before each competition the team listens to music and gets ready together, Curtis said listening to their favorite music 鈥渕akes the nerves go away.鈥�
And while she has pushed herself over the past four years to achieve physical goals like doing a hyper extended toe touch, part of the sport is also enjoying the entertainment part too.
鈥淚t is a great feeling when parents, teachers, or friends come to watch the cheerleading competitions and are impressed by my performance,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope to continue growing my skill level and doing the cheerleading routines to perfection, as well as continue my passion for the sport.鈥�
Outside of cheerleading, Curtis also keeps very active in lots of clubs and organizations, including several National Honor Societies of various subjects and leadership clubs. When school isn鈥檛 in session, she enjoys golf, going to work and hanging with her friends.
鈥淐heerleading has brought a lot of passion and skills in my life that I could not have without it, and I am glad to be a dragon cheerleader every day.鈥�
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