Varsity cheerleading Coach Kristy Gibson-Marshall lost 12 seniors last year but is still confident she has a winning team and is looking forward to a second year of league competition.
‘Losing 12 seniors devastate us but this is just our reloading year and we’ll be okay,? Gibson-Marshall said. ‘We’re just smaller, tougher and we’re going to put our heads down and to it’that’s all.? ‘People always under estimate the little guy,? she added.
Last season, the team proved outstanding, winning their first-ever league title championship.
After six years of no league competitions, the Flint Metro League hosted two competitions giving Oxford the title with a combined 1318 total points.
‘Bigger, better, buffer? is what it’s going to take and ‘bigger, better, buffer? is what the team is going to be, Gibson-Marshall said.
With 11 returning competitors including team captains Sabina Grusnick and Jamie Hoffman, both seniors with excellent leadership skills, Gibson-Marshall said they should do well competitively in the league.
‘Its the last time out for them (the two seniors) and they’ll do it,? she said.
Sophomore April Smith is proving to be a solid leader with her take-charge attitude, according to the coach
Ready to build a strong future for the team are juniors Aleashia Capogna, Kelly Mick, Michelle Sekelsky, and fellow sophomores Libby Ardelan, Caralyn Debash, Ashlee-Morgan Eller, Jenny Haney, Natalie Lukas, Rachel Pollack, and Ashley VanAtten.
With so many juniors and sophomores returning this year Gibson-Marshall is hoping this season will be a learning experience for them.
In a scrimmage last week, Gibson-Marshall found even though the team needs to focus on stunt skills, they showed strength in tumbling and jumping.
‘The trainer, Andy McDonald, and I really condition them well to get them jumping,? Gibson-Marshall said. ‘We’ll do great if we get stunting down, including conditioning for lifts is what we’ll work on.?
When asked which is the team in the league to beat, the coach confidently answered ‘we are.?
‘We’ve got to overcome our own obstacles and we are going to,? she said.
Academically, Gibson-Marshall said she is proud of her team that they are all carrying high grade point averages, which the coach said helps them focus attention to their strength training.
For now, it’s time for the team to focus on perfecting tucks, aerials, walkovers, and back springs before they defend their title at the Jan. 15 Competitive Cheer Coaches Association Tournament, which will take place in Oxford.