Countless hours of practicing the same eight counts over and over again. My team has performed their two minute, thirty second routine a million times. It is now competition day and standing with me is the rest of the level three senior team. We are up next we are waiting behind the big blue curtain you go to after warm-ups. Standing in our sequenced uniforms and overdone colorful makeup, we hear the end of the remixed music of our competitors. I am so nervous I have butterflies in my stomach, because I know if I make the slightest flaw, I will ruin the chance of victory for my entire team. The announcer now says “Now coming to the floor, Senior level 3, Legendz All-Stars”! I know now it is my time to enter the floor as an All-Star Cheerleader.

The team and I run out on the big, blue carpeted spring floor with the dim lights in our eyes. The little butterflies in my stomach have gone on a wild rampage as I scream “Go Legendz!”, and walk to my opening position. Thousands of eyes peering at me as I stand in clean, arms by my side with my head and ponytail flicked down. My eyes glance in the crowd to find my parents. I look at my coaches Donnie and Dennis who have that excited, nervous look on their faces. The blinding lights come on and caused a smack of confusion. My teams remixed music comes blaring through the speakers and I become a whole other person. I am no longer thirteen year old Christina Nappi, I am a professional All-Star Cheerleader who hits motions as sharp as a robot and tumbles as swift as an acrobat. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.” I think in my head like a broken record player. I hit my clean, tight motions of the opening of the routine when I grab the audience and bring them into my trance. Next, normally are the opening stunts. The coaches, praying they will stick and the flyer won’t bobble. Facials, facials, facials, one after the other while the trained team performs jumps, stunts, tumbling, and cheers.
Last comes my favorite part, the dance. This is where we wrap up their routine, when we have the audience leaning forward, about to fall out of their seats. Boom! The music blares to an end bringing the audience back to reality while the Legendz cheer squad are positioned motionless in our ending pose. The crowd cheers and the coaches jump with excitement!

I run off the floor along with the twenty two other cheerleaders. They screech “Good job” to me, making me feel like a movie star. We all crowd up in the replay room feeling claustrophobic with all our sweaty bodies. My team leaning close to the projecting screen, amazed with our work. I feel so proud of myself! The Level 3 Senior team walks with swagger to our meeting room where we meet our proud parents, of course mine are fighting, pushing to give me that big, breathtaking hug! A feeling of accomplishment and pride runs through my veins. This is what being an All-Star Cheerleader is all about.