Silently standing in formation on the football field, waiting for the music to start, you can almost feel their anticipation. Suddenly, a loud voice blasts from the speakers, “I have one thing to say!”
The enthusiastic response “S-B-C-C” can be heard from halfway across the field. This group of girls suddenly transforms into the Santa Barbara City College cheerleading squad.
Performing their competition routine, a remix of today’s hits including “Candy Shop” and yesterday’s favorites like “Tootsie Roll,” these girls shine as they dance, tumble and stunt.
Cheer coach Coral DeAlba, who took over the program in 2001, watches their every move, making a mental note of what parts need to be improved.
“It’s great to see how far they’ve come,” she said.
The squad started out with 26 girls during tryouts in April and was left with 22 by the time football season rolled around. Because of injuries some of the girls suffered, they are now down to 17.
“The hardest part of the girls leaving is making adjustments [to the routines],” said DeAlba. While missing some of their teammates has proved to be a challenge, these girls still manage to practice twice a week and perform halftimes at football and basketball games, as well as compete.
They recently performed their competition routine at the Feb. 11 men’s basketball game against L.A. Pierce College with little preparation.
“We finished learning the dance part the day before we performed,” said returning cheerleader Kelley Kennedy, a second year City College student.
In addition to performing new routines, the squad has two competitions coming up.
First up is the West Coast Open National Championship on March 12 in Irvine. They are also competing in the West Coast Championship on April 2 in Hollywood Calif., the same competition last year’s squad took first place, beating University of Southern California’s all girls squad.
The competitions aren’t all fun and games though. City College’s own cheerleaders have put a fair share of sweat and blood into learning their competition routine. Just ask flyer Heathor Connor.
“I separated my shoulder when we were practicing our stunt sequence,” Connor said. “I was supposed to be out for two weeks but I came back sooner. I’ve been hurt about four times since.”
The team also lost Lacey Hulsey because of the two concussions she sustained while practicing her craft.
Connor added that cheerleading is a lot tougher than it looks.
“It’s really a lot of cardio. It might only be a 3 minute routine but we’re dancing, tumbling and lifting girls in the air,” she said.
Back on the field, coach DeAlba, whom the girls refer to as Coral, splits the squad into two groups so each can practice their part in the dance sequence of the competition routine.
The group DeAlba is watching rushes to set up as she says, “5-6-7-8.”
The girls hit their moves and shake their thing. Coral stops them and says, “What was that move before the kickball change?” “Where are your arms supposed to be?”
The girls respond with, “Behind our head,” and “The move is really fast.”
After a few changes have been made, the group’s moves look more in synch. DeAlba looks pleased.
“Every year my team gets better,” she concluded.