- November 4, 2024
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The perception of a cheerleader parallels with that of a teddy bear: soft, cuddly and cute. But, the work that the Flagler Palm Coast cheerleading squad goes through for competitions and Friday night games can be as challenging as any other sport.
The FPC cheerleaders, led by coach Stacia Collier, has been one of the best competition cheer squads in the state for the past five years. Collier, a former FPC cheerleader, became head coach in 2004, when cheerleading wasn’t a sport. Two years later, competition started, which FPC placed 21st in its inaugural year. Then, Collier began to transform the program.
The following year, Collier led FPC to fourth place, a jump from 17 places. Since the first year, the Lady Bulldogs have made it to the finals, and they have finished in the Top four every year except once. In order to consistently be the crème de la crème in cheerleading completion, Collier makes sure her squad is thoroughly trained and proficient in their routines.
“We condition, do pushups, crunches and run,” Collier said. “We do a lot of core work, a lot of arm exerciser, a lot of legs. We usually focus a lot on routine. I believe the more we do our routine, the faster they’ll get it. It tit takes a lot of time before you get the routine.”
Collier’s training, though, is not in vain. In 2012 and 2014, FPC not only made it to state finals, but they finished as the runner-ups.
“The first year, the girls were excited,” she said. “They went crazy. Last year, they were bombed. They worked extremely hard, but the other team won.”
“I was so mad,” said Lore’ Bender, the other captain of the squad. “First place is always our goal. A lot of other teams would be happy with second, but I know our worth.”
Before reaching the finals last season, FPC won their regional tournament, which was held at FPC.
“It was a surreal experience,” Norberg said. “Everyone went crazy for us. It was overwhelming.”
“The feeling was indescribable,” Bender added. “All the late practices, all the extra work, then, becomes worth it. People don’t see all the work we put into cheering, so to win feels amazing.”
Due to the exhausting, demanding cheerleading schedule, some of the girls decide to quit, according to Collier.
“Most of my experiences with girls who couldn’t continue were on the junior varsity squad,” she added. “They’re new to high school, new to the sport, and they don’t really know what it entails. Cheerleading is a long season. They start in May, and they don’t get over until February, and that’s a long time for a lot of people.”
“During competition season, it gets really stressful,” said Tara Norberg, FPC’s co-captain. “We practice all the time, and when things aren’t going well, some of the girls get down,”
While some may choose to quit, there are others who may be asked to leave the squad for behavioral reasons, such as classroom behavior, grades, suspensions and all things major.
"We have tough standards,” Collier said. “We’re often asked to do photo ops or stand at finish lines at races, and it’s important that the girls represent us well. That’s a huge priority to us.” If the girls, however, turn their behavior around, Collier will allow them to return to the squad the next year, as she has done in the past and watched some of the girls become captains.
Collier has won over her squad with likability, and they credit her for being the reason why they have so much fun in the sport.
“If she wasn’t our coach, cheerleading wouldn’t be the same,” Bender said. “She plays a big role in why we love to cheer.”
FPC will host its regional tournament again Saturday, Jan. 17, and the squad is expecting a different outcome.
“Second place will not be acceptable this year,” Norberg said.
