Brittany Barber
Reporter
@BarberCourant
Although many sports teams believe individual contribution is a key to success, Xtreme Cheer has proven this theory wrong. Junior Katie Ferguson notes that Xtreme cheer is a group effort, and it takes every member of the team to be successful. “Xtreme Cheer is a competitive cheerleading program out of Norwalk, Connecticut. It is gymnastics and dance combined, where there are boys and girls of all ages on a team together,” Katie said.
Sophomore Carson Allsteadt, who is also on the team, adds to this by saying, “the team works all year to create a routine and then goes to different competitions around the United States to compete it,” she said.
For Katie and Carson, while being on the team is a great chance to experience something new, it also is a huge time commitment. “I started in fifth grade, so this year is going to be my seventh season. It takes up a lot of my time since it is a year round sport and the practices are three times a week,” Katie said.
On top of practice time, members of the Xtreme Cheer team spend a lot of time traveling. “I would definitely say a lot of my time goes to cheerleading because there are many weekends where we have to travel,” Carson said. “For example, in the past we’ve had to go to Florida for competitions which usually takes up an entire weekend,” Carson said.
Throughout the year, Katie feels that the team’s priority is to work hard to make it the the Worlds competition. “Worlds is the final national competition that you work towards until December. You have this routine that you create and then you go and compete against other teams to not only win, but to earn a bid to Worlds,” Katie said. “Worlds takes place in Orlando, Florida and it is where the best of the best go to compete for the championship.”
Katie feels that for those who do not cheerlead, they do not understand how unique the sport is. “Xtreme Cheer is cool because it started as a small gym, but has grown over the years as it has become more popular,” Katie said. “The competitiveness and intensity compared to other sports I have done is more overwhelming, but Xtreme has taught me life lessons and the importance of teamwork.”
Because cheerleading is a sport uncommon to many, Katie feels that assumptions and stereotypes are often created. “I feel like a lot of people think it is like high school cheer but it is very different for many reasons,” Katie said. “At our gym we have many different levels, and you have to gain skills to try out and be put on the highest level you can.”
At NCHS, Carson and Katie are the only two students that in participate in Xtreme Cheer. “Having only one other person from Xtreme at the high school with me is cool because it makes me feel different from everyone else,” Katie said.
Because Xtreme Cheer is a diverse sport, it gives teammates a chance to meet people they would not necessarily meet. “Since Xtreme consists of people from all around Fairfield country, I have gotten that chance to meet friends from several towns,” Carson said.
Considering Xtreme is a big part of Katie and Carson’s lives, they realize that it could continue with them into their futures. For Katie, she has already started thinking about her college plans in regard to Xtreme. “I like Xtreme so much that I would continue cheer into college, but it depends on the school I go to,” Katie said.
On the other hand, Carson has more time to think about Xtreme as part of her future. “Considering that Xtreme has always been a big part of my life, I’m excited to see where it takes me in the future, even though I have a few years until college,” Carson said.
