cheermommaRN
Cheer Parent
- Dec 14, 2009
- 3,894
- 9,954
I had to comment about your mention of not clapping for a team because you think they are not a true level 2 team. You do not know the whole story and you are assuming a lot of things. I can not tell you exactly what levels each of these kids are on, because some of them I do not know. However, I can tell you that most are level two and I can also tell you from personal experience.... Sparks is an amazing gym. They have been making fantastic routines for a long time. I had a daughter on one of their level 2 teams and her team won all but 1 competition that season along with several grand champions. You can look up their video on youtube Virtuoso level 2. This team also had a couple kids on higher levels, but it was for valid reasons. One that could have moved up to a higher level, but wanted to stay with a friend on level 2. Another higher level girl had to fill in as a cross over due to an injury. They have NEVER stacked a team for the purpose of winning a jacket and I find that comment to be offensive. You also assume that because they all were throwing back handsprings that they could not be level 1, that also is not correct. I am sure there are MANY athletes that start off on level 1 in August having no tumbling and with hard work and dedication they are throwing back handsprings within a few months. It was not uncommon to see kids move up 2 levels after being with the gym for 1 season. Bottom line these kids work hard, the coaches expect nothing less than 100% from them and they give them winning routines. I also would like to say that I do not currently have children at this gym so my comments are only due to the fact that I have a little more knowledge than you and I was appalled to see your comment about not clapping for a group of kids that worked their butts off to do well and have someone like you unable to acknowledge that. I can assure you they did not throw together a team so they can win jackets, not their style.
That's the only part of that comment I will take back, because it's not the kids fault their coaches decided to do that. But the rest I stand by. I have been contacted by other parents that have competed against this gym in the past under the same conditions. I don't assume things in life, everything I have said has been backed by other people and their own gym admitting they created this team.
But you know what...it's fine. Like I said if that is what they feel they need to do to win a jacket, then so be it. We can't control what other gyms do, all we can do is go out and leave everything on the mat. The girls didn't do that yesterday, today they will.
Hopefully Varsity will take note and maybe in the future they will take steps to prevent this from happening again.