MOSES LAKE — The Mavericks cheer team has qualified for state competition after scoring in the 80s at a competition at Hanford High School on Dec. 5. Since they have qualified, they will have a chance to compete for their ninth straight co-ed championship.   

“At this point, there is an expectation that we will do well,” Moses Lake High School cheer head coach Mikey Carlile said. “It's more nerve-racking for me now; we're the defending co-ed state champions for the last eight years in a row. So, there's just pressure ... just that expectation to continue that.”  

The Mavs started their season later than some programs due to the football team making a deep run in the 4A state tournament. Traditionally, competition for cheer starts in November; however, they did not compete until December, when they qualified for state.  

Though the late start does not hinder their chances of qualifying for state, Carlile said. If they score a 70 or higher at any meet during the season, they can qualify and have until the end of January to do so.   

The squad constructed a three-minute routine split into four parts, Carlile said. Three of those parts fall under their game day routine. This performance is supposed to mirror what the cheer team does on the sidelines at games. First, they do a band chant, which is accompanied by music they would hear during a game. With that, they use signs, flags and chants to elicit crowd responses.   

Following that, someone to the side of the mat yells out a call that an announcer might say during a game, such as "First down, Mavericks."  

The cheer team is expected to be prepared for anything they might call and perform the cheer that best correlates to it.   

“We have an offense and a defense (cheer) that they're ready to do, and they do. They have to listen and then do the correct one,” Carlile said.   

Next, they perform a bigger cheer to involve the crowd with a chant like "Let's go Mavs," or "‘Maroon and gold." Lastly, they finish off with the fight song.   

Through this routine, the team is judged on several performance factors. For example, vocal projection, crowd engagement, level changes like stunts where cheer squad members are being lifted into the air and quality of form with other motions and props like flags or signs. Most important of all is the crowd participation, Carlile said.   

“Our game day routine is one that you want crowd participation. The stunts are there to get people up high, so that the crowd sees different levels, and it's just more effective,” she said. “We do have one part in the game day routine where you are scored on the difficulty, and that's in the cheer. That has to be a certain level of difficulty to score high, and it has to be clean.”   

Despite qualifying for the state competition this early, Carlile and the Mavs are keeping their foot on the gas. Now they are focused on perfecting their routine and continuing to get feedback from judges.   

“We want to continue to compete and get feedback from the judges, because obviously, there were things in our routine that the judges thought we could have done better. We will try to improve on that so that we're getting better and better every week,” she said.   

Maintaining this yearly success has made it harder for Carlile. Each year, she feels the expectations to be successful increase. However, it helps her cheerleaders love to compete, she said.   

“It helps having seniors and even juniors that have been here before, because they know the expectations,” she said. “We've got kids that have been competing for two or three years, and then we've got kids that have never even cheered, and they're like, ‘Where are we going? What are we doing?’ It's a little difficult, but they do a great job of helping each other.”  

Through all of the competitions, Carlile said she sees her job as more than just coaching cheerleading. To her, it’s most important to help guide her cheerleaders into becoming good people.   

Just like other extracurriculars, it's a place where they can learn valuable life lessons. They learn about dedication, putting others over themselves, work ethic and teamwork. Outlets like cheerleading, football, basketball, band or theatre anchor students to their school and community, she said.   

“They understand that your grades are not just affecting you, they're affecting everyone here, plus your coaches. They understand that being on this team is your representation of the school, the community, every other kid on the team, your parents, your coaches, so the behavior expectation is higher,” Carlile said.   

State competition will be held Feb. 6-7 at Battle Ground High School. 

    The Mavericks Assistant Coach Toby Black, back row, helps cheerleaders work through a stunt. The Mavericks routine incorporates several stunts and movements, including props like flags and signs to encourage crowd engagement.
  

    A group of Mavericks cheerleaders work on their stunts at practice. Head Coach Mikey Carlile said their competition season started late because they were supporting the football team during the postseason.
  

    A Mavericks cheerleader waves a ‘M’ flag that helps spell out ‘Mavs’ during their game day routine.