The 55th WNCAA Cheerleading Seniors Champions compete again
The UA&P Firestarters competed in the ๐ข๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Competing internationally was an unforgettable and surreal experience. Wearing our uniform on a global stage and stepping on the mats with my team in a new environment was exciting, and was an experience that not only brought us together and strengthened our bond as a team in new ways, but also made me feel immensely proud to represent our school and our country.
Being surrounded by teams from different countries reminded me that cheerleading is more than just a sport, it also brings people together. Overall, the experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realize just how big the world of cheer really is.
I learned that excellence requires constant adaptation and resilience. From adjusting to a new environment to keeping oneโs composure under pressure, I saw how important it is to stay focused, support your team, and trust the training we put in back home. I also saw how despite our cultural differences, we all share the passion and energy for cheerleading. Most of all, I gained a deeper appreciation of my coaches, my teammates, and the cheer community.
Competing abroad taught me to take ownership of my role not just as a performer, but also as a teammate and leader. Iโve learned to communicate better, stay composed under pressure, and carry a mindset of growth wherever I go.
Moving forward, Iโll carry these lessons by constantly pushing myself to adapt, improve, train harder, and be someone my team can count on. The lessons I have learned from our experience competing in OCC have also given me more gratitudeโfor my coaches, teammates, and every opportunity to represent something bigger than myself.
Finally, itโs inspired me to keep bringing that same energy, unity, and heart to every practice, performance, and competition.
