They straighten their bows and make sure their red lipstick sits perfectly. While the first semester focuses on their skills along the football field, cheer spends the beginning of the second semester working on their competition routine. On Jan. 17, the team will travel to the Fort Worth Convention Center to compete in Spirit UIL.
“I’m always proud when faculty compliments the girls’ performances or behaviors,” head cheer coach Meredith Conlin said. “I’m proud of how active so many of the girls are in other clubs/activities and how devoted many of them are to their academics.”
This season marks Coach Conlin’s first full year as head cheer coach at Legacy and first time holding the role of head coach in 20 years. She started the year by setting goals both for herself and the team in hopes of navigating the unfamiliar environment.
“One of the biggest obstacles that I have faced is learning how to manage the financial needs and desires of a team in a district of this size,” Coach Conlin said. “I have coached cheer at previous districts in which I’ve taught, but my role was primarily that of an assistant coach. My only head coaching experience dates back two decades and was in a small 3A school.”
Cheer practices every day during second and sixth period. On Jan. 10, the team competed in the Mustang Invitational at Cross Timbers Middle School to prepare for UIL, placing third. This allowed them to get used to performing in front of a crowd and see where they stand among competing teams.
“I prioritize being prepared more than anything. I say all the time and to anyone who will listen that these girls are so talented, and so I want our performances to reflect that,” Coach Conlin said. “I try to make sure all of the girls feel valued, seen and heard, both by the coaches and their teammates because we can’t perform to our ability level if there isn’t respect and trust already instilled at a foundational level.”
The team overcame obstacles of a small squad by pulling six members of the drill team to perform with them at UIL. The differing practice schedules made it difficult for the girls to align and find time to rehearse.
“Having to find the time for us to be able to work with them and everyone, we kind of struggle with everyone being where they need to be,” senior Kennedy Milam said, “but since we’ve had the stability of one coach throughout the year, we’re able to focus on what we need to.”
Legacy will compete against 58 teams in the 6A Division II bracket. The preliminary round takes place at 10:30 a.m. The final 20 teams will compete again later that day. Milam focuses on remaining positive during the demanding competition.
“I prioritize having fun because the past few years, I’ve been really hard on myself and trying to be perfect versus understanding that this is a high school sport and that we all do it for fun,” Milam said. “So just having fun with it, and especially because it’s my last year, I do not want to take it for granted.”
Although they faced limited participation, Milam and Coach Conlin agreed that upholding positive relationships on the team remains essential for success. Throughout the season, they held team bonding events such as dinners and community service to strengthen their bonds.
“It can be challenging to keep the peace on a team composed of only teenage girls, but I have been really proud of how the girls work to put the needs of the team above individual personal needs,” Coach Conlin said. “We practice for perfection, or as near as we can get it, before we ever step foot on the gym floor for a pep rally, or turf for a game, or the mat for a competition.”
