Downpour not enough to dampen spirit

Spirit can overcome circumstance.
There are things that happen in life that we can’t control. That was the case for our local cheerleaders Saturday when the Indiana State Fair competition was canceled. The girls from Jay County High School and East Jay and West Jay middle schools couldn’t stop the rain, and they couldn’t influence the decision of state fair officials to not only call off the event for that day but also to cancel it completely.
What they could control was how they reacted to the situation. And they did that with a level of maturity beyond their years.
Yes, there was frustration. Yes, there were tears. Yes, there was disappointment.
And yes, after their coaches informed them that they would be going to Pendleton Heights High School to perform their routines in an impromptu showcase, not everyone was excited. After hours of waiting in the rain, some just wanted to go home.
Who could blame them?
But each squad gathered together and refocused. They talked about making the best of a bad situation. Then they went out and did it.
Each of the squads put together their best performance of the summer Saturday afternoon at Pendleton Heights. It was steps beyond what they had done a night before at their state fair preview show at JCHS.
What was impressive at PHHS, though, went well beyond what the Jay County, Pendleton Heights and Union City squads did on the mat.
The Pendleton Heights girls, who arrived first, got everything set up for a show that was being thrown together at the last minute. All of the squads shared the mat together for warm ups. They cheered for each other, sitting on the floor at the front edge of the blue mat. After the performances were done, every squad gathered for a massive group picture. And then cheerleaders from all of the schools worked together to get the mats torn down and put away.
The showcase was pulled together at the last minute to give the squads a chance to perform their routines, but benefits stretched beyond that intent.
“I thought it went great. I loved the camaraderie of all the teams,” said Pendleton Heights coach Brenda Jamerson. “You don’t get that at state fair. I thought it was really neat that they were all cheering for each other.”
Some good came out of difficult situation.
Still, it would be easy for the cheerleaders to feel that the last several months have been a waste. After putting in so much work, they would not get to test themselves in competition.
That’s disappointing. But the summer was not wasted.
Time is never really wasted when it’s spent doing something you enjoy. It’s never wasted when it’s spent striving to get better. It’s never wasted when it’s spent building friendships.
Saturday’s events were not particularly easy to deal with, but they will be remembered forever. Decades from now, the girls will talk about it at reunions. They’ll tell their daughters about it when they’re doing their hair and makeup in preparation for their own state fair competitions.
Even without the chance to compete, you still have all of the moments shared together throughout the summer. You’ll look back at the funny, inspiring or crazy things that happened at camp. You’ll remember the moments you cried, the moments you laughed, the moments you smiled.
And you’ll do it together. Because, as much as it’s not the path you would have chosen, no other group of Jay County cheerleaders will ever share the same experience you did Saturday.
In time, you’ll tell the story, not in anger or frustration, but with a touch of humor and pride. You’ll recall how despite missing out on the chance to compete at the state fair, you came together with other schools to show what cheerleading is really all about — spirit.
Yes, there will be no state fair trophies this year. But, as senior Alexus Liette noted in the following Instagram post with a photo of her squad Sunday evening, that’s not what really matters.
“Getting to spend senior year with this team is far more rewarding than any trophy.”