The extra edge

CEDAR RAPIDS - 'V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!” is a traditional cheer the Xavier High School Poms team does before every performance.

The team has started its competition season and already has performed three times - placing first in the jazz and poms divisions at the Prairie High School Poms competition. The Saints also competed at North Shore in Chicago, performing their UDA lyrical and Pom dance. They placed second in the lyrical division and seventh in the jazz division. They also performed at the state competition in Des Moines, placing second in the poms division, third in jazz and lyrical.

Some may say practice and hard work is how teams succeed, but the Xavier's poms team believes having a team that is emotionally close can be the key to success.

'I feel like bonding has made our team closer,” sophomore Jordyn Boge said. 'Being new to the team this year, I didn't really know anyone that well going into the season. After spending time with them through bonding, competitions and even practices, I consider everyone on my team a friend and person that I can talk to.”

Many sports teams do bonding exercises to help them compete better, and the poms team is no exception. The team went to dinner and had bonding time after the team was first put together. They also have held bonding nights and have had sleepovers. Some other traditions include staying in hotels rooms at some competitions with three other girls on the team and having 'Fun Day Monday's” after every competition.

The girls feel the bonding pays off at competitions. There are usually several hours at each competition where they would all rather be sleeping, but they spend time talking, eating and jamming to music. Before they perform, the team always huddles and chants to get themselves pumped up and ready. Bonding also has allowed them to be able to communicate with each other.

'Taking time to bond with each other has helped us at competitions,” sophomore Brie Baldus said. 'We perform and work as a team and we feel comfortable helping each other out during our dances, whether it be motivation or corrections.”