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A cheer for the cheerleaders: New Madrid County Central cheer team places second at state
NEW MADRID, Mo. - New Madrid County Central High School has a long winning tradition. Banners touting their successes hang with pride in the school gym.
This year a banner will be added to honor another group of talented NMCC athletes - the school’s cheerleading squad. The 16-member squad competed in Missouri’s first-ever Gameday Championships, cheering their way into second place at the competition conducted at Drury College in Springfield.
“It was the first time the state held this format with all three competitions the same day. It was a very big deal,” said cheerleading coach Jordan York.
According to the Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association, the goal of the Gameday Division is to offer a championship level competitive event which showcases the skills and routines used in a gameday atmosphere and promotes crowd involvement, while enhancing the spirit of a sporting event. Squads demonstrated their abilities in three categories - Time Out Cheer, Fight Song and Band Chant.
Competing against nine other squads in their division, NMCC won first place for their cheer, second for their song and fourth in the band chant to earn their second place ranking.
“It was a lot different from the traditional state. This was more like what we do at every game. This was more in our wheelhouse of what we are prepared for. My girls seemed to like it a lot. They said they had a lot of fun,” York said.
The squad’s seniors Delaney Cooksey, Joycelynne Jackson and Emma Martinez served as captains,. The NMCC squad also included juniors, Caitie Cox, Maddie Horne and Callie Horne; sophomores, Akara Jackson, Shawna Robinson, Alexis Boggs and Kylee Sturgeon; and freshmen, Calleigh Cooksey, Jordan Eakens, Kaylee Babb, Peyton Jarmon and Taylor Shawn.
York described the squad as young, pointing out more than half of the members are freshmen or sophomores. Yet what they lacked in experience, the coach continued, they made up in determination.
“We practiced our tails off. The girls worked so hard. We were having two to three hour practices. We were practicing on Saturdays. They were coming in during snowstorms. We fought COVID. We have fought everything this year just to get prepared,” York said.
According to the coach, practice for the competition meshed well with what they were doing to prepare for the games. And there were plenty of games. The squad cheered at the junior varsity and varsity boys basketball games as well as girls games.
Despite the challenges, York, who is in her first year as coach, said she sought to maintain a positive attitude. She saw that same attitude in the squad.
“You always have those couple of girls who determine the rest of the attitude for the squad. My seniors would come in and they would lead and would have positive attitudes. I think that is what it comes down to: Your girls have to believe in the program, they have to believe in each other and they have to believe in what we are putting out there,” she said.
The team captains said the squad formed a tight bond.
Cooksey said by spending so much time together at practice and games, the team built a strong relationship with every member. As part of that bond, Jackson noted they would often text one another or group chat on their phones.
The three agreed they worked harder than ever before to meet their new coach’s high expectations.
“This year we had new cheers for every single game, we practiced harder
and she disciplined us - there was no goofing off,” Cooksey said.
Martinez, who cheered all four years at Central, credited York with the squad’s success. “This year was way different. She pushed us to be better and we did the best we have done in a long time,” she said.
Also she liked other changes York instituted. Martinez said in addition to new cheers at the games, the cheerleaders also ran flags and had a banner for the teams to run through prior to the games.
The crowds appreciated their efforts, Martinez added.
York’s high expectations extended into the classroom as well. All squad members were required to maintain their grades throughout the season.
York proudly points out squad members Alexis Boggs, Delaney Cooksey, Catie Cox, Maddie Horne, and Akara and Joycelynne Jackson were named Academic All State.
Despite the work and the time required, the three seniors said it was worth it.
“This was my best year that I have ever cheered,” said Cooksey.
Jackson added: “I had a really fun season. There was never any negative energy, just a fun season. It made my senior year great and placing second at state made it even better.”
York is equally as happy with how the year went.
“I think it is really awesome that I, as a coach, get to work with such amazing athletes,” she said. “They have really taught me so much. I’m so thankful and so grateful I got to start my coaching career off with this group of girls.”
York also praised the support she and the squad received from parents, school administrators and the teachers.
“We had a lot of people rooting for us. I don’t think without them we would have made it as far as we did,” she said.
The squad’s break from their practices is short. Tryouts for next year’s squad are in May.
The squad’s three captains will teach the routines to the incoming freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. They also will offer some advice.
Jackson said she will encourage those trying out to be willing to try new things. “You have to be willing to listen to the coach, to take suggestions and be ready for changes,” she said.
Martinez said she will tell them: “Always focus and have a good time. Keep your grades up and enjoy it because goes by fast and you are going to miss it when it is gone.”
York knows the word is out that cheerleading is hard work.
“They are cheering as long as the boys are playing and sometimes longer because they are cheering the time outs. They are cheering the quarters. They are conditioning. They are doing everything that every other team is doing,” York said. “The sheer athleticism it takes is unmatched.”
But, she also knows those trying out are aware of the squad’s success. She foresees more success ahead.
“We found something we were really good at and we want to continue to do it,” she said. “We are a force to be reckoned with.”
York, who is the daughter of Gerald and Beth Murphy, is also looking forward to the arrival of the squad’s banner.
“I think it is really cool that I get to hang a banner in the same gym my dad got to hang a banner in,” she said noting her father coached the state-winning 1988 NMCC basketball team. “His banner is white and mine is going to be green but maybe next year ….”