Mavs cheer successful in state competition

BATTLE GROUND — The Moses Lake Mavericks competitive cheer squad took home hardware this year at the state competition in Battle Ground. Head coach Mikey Carlile called it a great experience for her team, as they capped off another successful season.  

“We had a great weekend,” she said. “They definitely improved every time that we competed (this season), and they worked really hard on taking the judges' feedback and implementing it into our routine. They had a great season.”  

The Mavs competed on Feb. 7 in the 3A/4A Tumbling Coed, where they ranked second after scoring an 87.4. They also competed in the 3A/4A Game Day Coed group, where they scored a 94.1, which earned them first place.  

Moses Lake qualified for the state competition Dec. 5 when they first started competing this season. They had a delayed start due to the football team making a run in the state tournament. Despite the late start, they qualified early, allowing them to fine-tune their routine and make necessary improvements as they geared up for the state competition.   

How the team came together to support one another throughout the season stood out to Carlile the most this season, in terms of growth.   

“As the season went on, they did a really good job of encouraging each other, supporting each other, being great teammates and going out there as a team and competing as a team, and not as individuals,” Carlile said.   

As the team forged their bond on the mat, the pressure of putting on the perfect performance decreased, Carlile said.   

“It's always easier when everyone's patting each other on the back and telling each other they can do it. That always helps you feel like you're not alone out there,” she said.   

After missing out on first place in tumbling by .2 points, Carlile said she noticed some of her cheerleaders seemed disappointed. She gave them encouraging remarks after; all that mattered to her was that they did their best, she said.   

“We were trying our hardest, and that's all we can do. I think they were thrilled to get second place. That's a huge accomplishment in itself, to go to the state championship level and get not only one, but two trophies,” Coach said.   

Though the state competition has come and gone, the Mavs cheer team is still active as they root on the MLHS basketball teams.  

“We still have a basketball game this Friday, so we're going to practice on Thursday. I gave them a couple days off, and then we're going to practice on Thursday and get ready for that game and then we got, hopefully, some playoff basketball," she said.   

While they cheer on the Mavs hoops, Carlile said she has already had conversations with her coaches about what they can do next year. In a previous interview, she noted that with each successful year; she feels pressure to sustain it. However, she has used it as motivation to continually improve.   

“We're always trying to get better. We were having a coach's conversation the next day about what we are going to do next year. What do we need to do?  What are we doing next week to get ready for next year,” Carlile said.   

After another successful season of competitive cheer, Carlile said she is grateful for her cheerleaders and their commitment to the program.   

“They are good kids,” she said. “They follow directions, and they are good teammates. They're coachable and respectful to other people. I'm just really proud of them for what we accomplished. To win another state title and get another second place is just amazing.”  

    Moses Lake Cheer performs at the state competition in Battle Ground. Head Coach Mikey Carlile said she was proud of her team for how they came together this season.
  

    The Mavericks cheer team performs one of their stunts at the state competition in Battle Ground. The Mavericks qualified for state in December after a delayed start to their season due to fall sports.
  

    The Mavericks competitive cheer team rallies around each other at the state competition in Battle Ground.
  

    The Moses Lake competitive cheer team performing at the state competition in Battle Ground. Head Coach Mikey Carlile said her team worked hard to reach the states this year.