Dedicated to redemption
Finishing in third and second place after a 20-year absence from the National Cheerleading Association College Nationals is a remarkable feat in itself. Javelina Cheer, however, isn’t satisfied with just that. The team looks to bring back that first-place finish from Daytona Beach, Fla., this week.
“You can call it our redemption year,” said first year Head Cheer Coach Lindsey Garcia. “Last year we felt like it got taken from us by a team that should not have been in our division. So, we’re coming back stronger than ever to make sure that we show them that we are the team that deserves to have that trophy.”
Senior Santino Palizo was a part of the first team that competed in Daytona in 2023. The team placed third that year behind Henderson State University and national champs Dallas Baptist University. Neither one of those teams would sniff the top three, let alone the top 10, in 2024, but the Javelinas did get in again.
“We’ve been through a lot since our previous coach moved to another school, but we had to stick with our mindset when she left. She had built a standard here for our team to be dedicated,” Palizo said.
After finishing second to Tarleton State University last season, the squad heads into next week with one thing on their mind: first place.
“This team gives me confidence because of our dedication that we put on the mat and we’re not complacent with ourselves or our routine. We are continuously working to get better day by day, even if we have something that’s already great, we always work to make it perfect because we know that we can get better each and every day with every single rep we put in,” senior Iliana Chavez said.
Chavez and Palizo have finished top three twice so far in their respective cheering careers.
However, Garcia could get her first in her young head coaching career.
“They’re dedicated. Each and every one of them come in every day and put in the work in and out of the gym. They all have the right mindset of going into competition, that we are going to win, but they’re not getting complacent with where we’re standing,” she said.
The cheer team competes this week at nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla., from April 9 to 13.
