By Jennifer Uselton

The "WOW" performance award is a highly coveted title that recognizes stand out talent at the Spirit Celebration competitions. The "WOW" award focuses on athletes with exceptional technique, and emerging talent. When you watch a competitive cheer routine, there are usually a few athletes that really catch your attention. It might be that they have hyperextended jumps with pointed toes, gorgeous flexibility in their stunts, or strong tumbling emphasized by excellent technique. These are athletes with skills that catch your attention and keep you focused on THEM! Whatever their obvious talent might be, when you watch that routine, you notice that your eyes are naturally drawn to that person and just one word comes to mind, “WOW”!

Photo: Becky Joest

The "WOW" award is a very special recognition. Yes, a cheer routine needs everyone to work, as a team, to be visually effective. Flyers can’t go up without their bases, and you can’t admire great synchronization if only one person is dancing. But inevitably, most teams have someone who shines from the inside out and attracts everyone’s attention. At Spirit Celebration, or SC events, that inner beauty and drive is recognized and rewarded. Victoria Butler, a Tarleton State
alumni cheerleader, is one of the lucky people that gets to decide who will receive this coveted title and in the SC arena, she’s the discerning eye that many cheerleaders want to attract. The cheerleaders sit on that blue mat, hold hands and their breath as they wait for the awards to be announced. Once the team placement awards are given, the fun doesn’t stop there. For the average SC cheerleader, the "WOW" award is something that drives them to perform their heart out and it’s also the secret individual recognition they yearn to accomplish. Grant Joest from Woodlands Elite, a cheerleader to keep your eye on in the future of cheerleading, explained to us what it felt like when he unexpectedly won the "WOW award early in his cheer journey.

I was extremely happy. It was amazing to be recognized in the sport that I love. It was also incredible to have the support from cheer family and coaches once I won the award. The award was very motivating because I felt like the hours and work that I put into cheer was rewarded. Currently, the award remains hanging on my wall and is one of my proudest accomplishments.

The Spirit Celebration competitions have a variety of recognition awards that they not only give to teams but to individuals and even the spectators. After the "WOW" awards, it’s the parents and spectators who wait, with bated breath, to hear their names over the loud speakers. SC events encourage spectator participation by offering the opportunity for fans to win “BEST FANS IN THE STANDS!”. The prize is a pizza party for their gym that is awarded to the loudest, most cheerful parents along with a Best Fans plaque. All types of noise makers are allowed. Body paint, signs and creativity are encouraged to convince the judges which programs will win! The fans take this award seriously and really put a lot of effort into preparing for this title. These parents spend hours creating elaborate signs to catch the attention of their own athlete, the judges and even other programs. Many hours of labor go into developing intricate signs, noise makers and even some spectator costumes for each event. Cheerleaders look up into a sea of glittery, feathered, well lit foam boards to look for their name or picture. Before the cheer and dance routines start and after they finish their performances, it’s the parents in the stands who turn into cheerleaders. For just a moment, the spotlight is focused on the seated sections in the arena as they chant, yell, and wave their signs high in the air to let their athlete know that
they are loved and supported.

Whether you are an individual cheerleader, a competitive team, or a spectator, there are many ways for you to walk out of every Spirit Celebration event feeling like a winner!