Prank

Date: Mon Mar 20 3:16 PM, 2006

Prank

Date: Mon Mar 20 3:55 PM, 2006

This is John…Owner of POWER

This is what happened yesterday at Americas Best Spirit leader Nationals. Please understand that they were in a division by themselves and were not trying to be disrespectful to AB, employees, or judges. After a day to soak it all in, it was a pretty good one that they got on myself and the POWER staff

I will tell the story of the greatest cheer punk ever (to date of course…as it is now the coaches turn)

The Large Senior 5 team for months now have been saying jokingly “John, what would you do if you played the music and we just stood there” I told them that I would let the CD play, take it out of the player, and walk away.

Now for the set-up

George our fearless banger leader that gets the crowd going right before our teams take the floor, had to head off to work and would not be there for the Sr level 4 and Sr level 5 teams. I knew that the level 4 division was going to be close and that the level 5 team needed a great performance under our belt previous to worlds especially since we were attempting new skills and tumbling passes. I decided then that I would lead the bangers for the final two performances of the year and get the crowd fired up to end a great season for most of the POWER teams on a high note. I spoke with Lindsay (POWER staff) about doing the music for me so I could do the bangers and lead the crowd. I have been next to the music table all year, but yesterday I could not as I was going to be the fearless leader. I went over with Lindsay at least 4 times what numbers to play and wait for my signal every time she replied I got it I got it.

Here is what happened

I start running up and down the stairs of our bleachers, up, up, up it is the final performance of the year. Bangers begin to thunder the sound that we all still hear in our ears today, lol. I start the chant; with the crowd on their feet begins one final time of the year Experience the POWER clap clap….. clap clap clap. The team enters the floor, the entire program behind them. They get set. I look at Lindsay and give her the nod. The music starts, and then they don’t move. By the beginning of the second 8ct I knew, they were doing it. AB Staff, POWER Staff, Judges, pretty much the entire arena it felt like was looking over to me like what is going on? Lindsay is scared out of her mind across the arena thinking she messed up and I was going to yell at her. All the time I was thinking I couldn’t believe they are doing it. I was embarrassed, my ears turned red and they were burning up, but I had to think fast. I gave Lindsay the kill the music sign. She stopped the music and signaled to me you told me 8, I played 8. I looked at her and said it is ok, restart the music. Although everyone in the arena thought we played the wrong music, they had no idea as to what was really taking place. What felt like an eternity, was actually only a few seconds in time, and before the music started I screamed out “It better be flawless”, my outburst had been reciprocated by two head turns and big cheesy grins by Kristi Randel and Stephanie Shouse, followed seconds late by you are about to witness the POWER. The Performance was one of the BEST all year, all new tricks hit. On any given day I would have been ecstatic, but that day I was still in shock and disbelief of what had transpired. When I walked over to them immediately, as they got set for awards they shouted out to me hey John… you just got punked. It wasn’t until later that I found out that none of us coaches were in on it, and we were all punked.

All I can say for all of you ladies, the season is not over for you yet, and we owe you!

Hope you all enjoyed some humor at our cost.

Cheers
JOHN

Date: Mon Mar 20 4:11 PM, 2006

CLASSIC! And if you know John it's even BETTER! Sorry I missed it.

Date: Mon Mar 20 4:25 PM, 2006

WOW all I can say is man I think our coach would murder us if we did that!! Good to know that you took it well. I wish I could have seen it. See you in Florida
Good Luck to you!!!!

Date: Mon Mar 20 7:53 PM, 2006

We have not seen them yet. Their first practice after the "prank" is Tuesday. They were informed that they better be hydrated before practice becasue it is going to be a long one. All year we have told them they win as a team and lose as a team. Tommorow they are going to condition thier behinds off as a team.

Lisa

Date: Mon Mar 20 8:41 PM, 2006

I love you lisa!!!

Date: Tue Mar 21 7:54 AM, 2006

Large Senior 5. I just heart you! Have fun at practice!

Date: Tue Mar 28 2:38 PM, 2006

WOW, you guys are soooo funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bet it's great to be so good that you can just throw it away for some prank. OOPS I forgot, you were the only ones in your division. You already had it won. Sounds like another competition you were at. Must be nice.

Date: Tue Mar 28 2:43 PM, 2006

oh no it couldn't be...they totally took that competition in sacramento... they won by freggin 20 points!!!! they totally OWNED that whole comp... ;)

Date: Tue Mar 28 2:51 PM, 2006

It'll just never die will it? Now I'm over being frustrated and annoyed with these posts. Now I just offer you my pity. Sad, sad people.

Date: Tue Mar 28 4:52 PM, 2006

we all need to get over being mean to each other. POWER is great cheergyms is great, and every team in the middle. we need to say good job, all these girls have a gift that we should encourage.

Date: Tue Mar 28 4:57 PM, 2006

hey guys,

lets not get another negative thread going. Ignore and it will go away.

Date: Thu Mar 30 5:54 AM, 2006

I WAS THERE..................................................................................................

Date: Thu Mar 30 7:13 AM, 2006

THIS IS TO " I WAS THERE" SO I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU SEEN EXACTLY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SEEN..AM I RIGHT..POWER ONCE AGAIN WAS ON TARGET, NOT ONLY THE SENIOR TEAMS, BUT ALL TEAMS..THEY HIT THERE ROUTINES LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO..THEY WORK HARD WEEK AFTER WEEK TO TRY AND BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN..WITH HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION ANYONE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT EVER THEY PUT THEIR MIND TOO.
THERES AN OLD SAYING..THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING..

Date: Thu Mar 30 9:00 AM, 2006

I was there too. Power was good, no doubt. Did they blow away the competition? Their Senior Level 5 did as they always do. Awesome team. The others? I think even Power would admit it came very close at times, pretty even in my book. The edge went to Power. It was a good competition.

Good luck to Power and all the other CA teams representing us at Worlds.

Date: Thu Mar 30 10:58 AM, 2006

Was There 2 wrote:

I was there too. Power was good, no doubt. Did they blow away the competition? Their Senior Level 5 did as they always do. Awesome team. The others? I think even Power would admit it came very close at times, pretty even in my book. The edge went to Power. It was a good competition.

Good luck to Power and all the other CA teams representing us at Worlds.

I agree. I would have to say. We have been at pretty much all the same competitions as Power and their teams are consistent. I think their younger teams are great and it shows why the older teams are INSANE. I heard from one of the parents that their Mini team went undefeated. They start them young and by the time they are around 10 they are throwing layouts and fulls. I read an earlier post that Power has tiny fliers they do but those tiny fliers on their upper levels also have mad tumbling skills. Just my 2 cents

Date: Thu Mar 30 12:15 PM, 2006

Actually what I said was that the level 5 team was awesome; but the other older teams and their competition were equally good, I thought it could have gone either way. The judges gave the edge to Power. Just wanted to clarify. The level 5 team is insane, completely agree with that! Love their stunts.

Date: Thu Mar 30 3:00 PM, 2006

YEAH ME TOO wrote:

THIS IS TO " I WAS THERE" SO I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU SEEN EXACTLY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SEEN..AM I RIGHT..POWER ONCE AGAIN WAS ON TARGET, NOT ONLY THE SENIOR TEAMS, BUT ALL TEAMS..THEY HIT THERE ROUTINES LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO..THEY WORK HARD WEEK AFTER WEEK TO TRY AND BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN..WITH HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION ANYONE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT EVER THEY PUT THEIR MIND TOO.
THERES AN OLD SAYING..THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING..

...? they're consistent?? id never seen them full on drop a stunt and that grl ive never seen her faceplant before...
idk jus saying
they did do awesome other than that tho!!

Date: Thu Mar 30 3:04 PM, 2006

It's time to let this go. This was not an edge, it was a landslide!!! Power obviously had at least 20 more points worth of talent and as far as consistency, they were consistent when it counted. Who cares about the face plant or the fall. All they had to do was throw a clean, simplified routine when it counted and the judges and influence took care of the rest. See everyone at WORLDS where the truth will reign.

Date: Thu Mar 30 3:17 PM, 2006

uh, not sure what competition you're talking about, but at America's Best Nationals the lower levels (under level 5) senior teams didn't win by a landslide. Let's keep it real here, k? Esp. level 4, I was there and it was sooooooo close. BOTH teams were good.

Our teams didn't go against Power, but maybe next year (we'll look forward to it).