Around half the Northwest Competition Cheer team crowded into senior Mary Sanders’ basement, awaiting the news.

Broadcasting from Texas: the NCA High School Nationals Ranking Ceremony.

“With a score of 93.93 percent.”

“That’s us.”

“Shawnee Mission Northwest High School”

The room exploded. 

They placed second. Nationally. A new record for the school. 

Everyone jumped and cheered loudly, some even cried. 

“I thought we were going to get top five,” senior Lovie Dubbs said. “I didn’t really think we were going to get second, so that was just really awesome.”

Northwest’s competition cheer was scheduled to fly to Fort Worth, TX, on Jan. 23, to compete at the NCA High School nationals in the Game-day Coed Varsity-Large group. The same night, a “severe” winter storm was sweeping the nation. The Shawnee Mission School District Board decided that the team would not fly to Texas, seeing as they could be caught in the storm. 

“It really sucks that we didn’t get to go this year because, honestly, half the fun is just being with your team and staying in the hotel,” Dubbs said. 

Since they couldn’t attend, they recorded their routine and sent the film virtually. To avoid cheating, there is a specific website they recorded through that only allows two attempts.  

“Our second run through was way better ; we did a really good job, and at the end of it all, it was just kind of sad,” Dubbs said. “Right when our routine ended, I looked around at everybody, and a lot of people just started crying because we’ll never perform together again.”

This capped the season for competition cheer with a record-breaking title for Northwest.