NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Blackman Highschool Cheerleading has won 16 TSSAA State Titles and 9 UCA National Titles since 2005.
On Friday, February 10, the team will compete for the 10th National Championship at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World.
Blackman competes with four boys and 16 girls in the junior coed division at the Universal Cheerleading Association Highschool Championship that runs from February 10 to February 12.
This season the Blaze will compete in an unprecedented event at the high school level, which will be handed back to an early retirement. . Something head coach Courtney Gregory said will help them stand out.
Gregory along with Heather Wortham coached the Blaze for more than 18 seasons together, leading the program to their first national championship in 2010.
Thirteen years later they are looking to bring home a tenth ring.
“The truth is that it scares me,” said parent Olivia Cooner. “There is nothing like going to the country. You’re in the background and it’s dark … your heart is racing and you’re very nervous.”
Half of this year’s team had never competed at the nationals, an experience that would be difficult to duplicate in the practice gym or online. “I heard that when you look outside you don’t see a single person. It’s just lights and energy,” said Junior Addie Cobb who has never been on that national carpet.
The Blaze has one of the most action-packed and unique routines that the program has ever competed in, which should equate to victory when they hit (a phrase that means no crash or crash fall).
“I mean knock on wood,” senior Dylan Winegar said. “We’re going to go out there and beat the norm, and surprise the crowd with what we’re going to do.”
Blackman High School will compete in the first round of the competition on Friday, Feb 10. If they advance to the semi-final or final they will held on Saturday, February 11.
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