Snow covered Alton High School on the day the varsity co-ed cheer team expected to open their season at home, forcing a cancellation that set the tone for a challenging start and pushed the Redbirds into their first competition with unexpected pressure.
For Head Coach Megan Hodge, the canceled home competition carried immediate consequences. She said the team missed out on valuable early feedback that normally sets the tone for the season.
“I strongly feel that with the cancellation it put us at a bit of a disadvantage due to us not getting those good raw score sheets in hand,” Hodge said.
Despite the rocky start, Hodge said the team refused to let the cancellation define their season.
“However, the competition in Pinckneyville helped us get those first comp jitters out of our system,” Hodge said. “It gave us some solid clarity that our routine is more than capable of advancing to the state series.”
Hodge is no stranger to guiding teams through early-season adversity, but this year’s roster brought a unique challenge. Many athletes were stepping onto a competition mat for the first time, and injuries and roster shifts forced last-minute adjustments. Still, the team stayed united and leaned on their long-standing closeness.
“Our team is extremely green with so many fresh faces on that mat,” Hodge said. “The one thing we have maintained is the family dynamic and our team has really come together even stronger.”
The home competition was especially meaningful for Senior Lydia Fite as she approached her final season. She had been hoping for one more chance to perform at Alton in front of family and classmates. While the cancellation was disappointing, she said the team used the extra time to sharpen the routine.
“It was really special to me since it was my last Alton comp,” Fite said. “I was sad that it got cancelled, but it gave the team extra time to clean the routine up more.”
When the team failed to qualify for the Illinois Cheer Coaches Association (ICCA) Championship at its opening competition, the athletes shifted their mindset immediately. The pressure to bounce back united the team around a single goal.
“We know that we HAVE to qualify at our next comp,” junior Armaya Lucas said. “We don’t want to look how we did at the last one, so we’re taking practice extra seriously and working extra hard.”
Hodge said practices since the opener have focused heavily on technique and precision. The coaching staff focused on formation changes, isolated motions and emphasized hitting level four stunts with control. Every adjustment connects back to one theme: execution.
“Execution is a huge focal area for us this season while maintaining that Redbird spirit,” Hodge said.
As the season moves forward, Hodge said her belief in the team has only grown stronger. She described her athletes as dependable and coachable, qualities that she said make long-term progress possible. Their trust in one another, she added, is the foundation of everything they hope to accomplish.
“They’re my family,” Hodge said. “I have nothing but confidence in them because they have confidence and respect in me.”
The Redbirds hope that confidence becomes the turning point that carries them through the rest of their competitions. With new athletes, early setbacks and a demanding routine, the season’s challenges remain real. But the team believes those obstacles may be exactly what prepares them for a comeback.
For Alton High cheer, the message is clear: the beginning may have been rough, but the potential ahead is stronger than ever.
