Victory Every Time Squad (VETS) leaves for their state competition early in the morning on Nov. 21. Cheer competes the next day, also in Topeka.
Sophomore cheer team member Madisyn Sandbo says that more work is put in besides what people actually see.
“People see us as a spirit squad,” Sandbo said. “But people don’t see our practices and all the things we put into it. If people saw behind the scenes, people would recognize us more.”
Senior VETS captain Annabell Heath agreed.
“We are seen as just as a half time performance,” Heath said. “So being able to say that we’re going to state and competing definitely makes it feel rewarding.”
The cheer team was awarded with the Best Overall Performance at their most recent showcase.
“We were sharp, we were clean, we were loud, and we got best overall,” Mong said.
Mong calls it “pre-state” because you get to do everything you would at state but just as practice.
Sandbo is confident in this year’s placement in the semi-finals.
“We’ve gotten so much better within a year, and I think we can definitely place higher,” Sandbo said.
Heath went to state all four years of high school.
“My freshman year we just didn’t know what we were going into,” Heath said. “And then last year we almost got to finals. So I’m excited to see how this year will play out.”
Mong said she gets nervous for state, but not because of the crowd.
“It’s just the fact that I want to win,” Mong said. “I’m really competitive. It’s us for three whole minutes screaming, smiling and just giving it our all.”
Senior cheer captain Layla Waters shares one of the challenges the team had to overcome this year.
“My coach had her baby,” Waters said. “So our assistant coach had to step in. But it feels really good knowing that we are all coming together as a team and working really hard towards a common goal.”
For sophomore VETS team member Aria Jagodzinske, this is only her second year going to state.
“I feel like the competition varies every year,” Jagodzinske said. “I’m nervous for this year because I feel like we haven’t had the time to put effort into state but I know that we end up working well together under pressure.”
Mong said that if the team is not on their A game then they won’t place in this competition.
“If one thing goes wrong, it can ruin everything,” Mong said. “One stunt is late, one motion is missed, somebody falls. Then it’s all just ruined in a split second.”
After all the time these young women have spent together they have made life long bonds.
Mong said cheer is everything to her.
“Honestly, if I didn’t do cheer, I probably wouldn’t have all the friends that I do have,” Mong said.
Heath said she isn’t ready to say goodbye to the VETS team with football season coming to an end.
“It’s becoming more and more real,” Heath said. “VETS has been the greatest high school experience for me. I am really sad to say goodbye.”
