taking home the gold

‘Oh captain, my captain’: Hassett leads team to championship glory

By Trevor Medeiros

When most people think of the challenges that come with the title of captain, dealing with pressure is certainly on top of the list. No doubt UMass Dartmouth Cheerleading captain Courtney Hassett felt her own share of pressure leading her team into last weekend’s National Cheerleading Association Division II championships in Daytona Beach.

However, when the pressure was on, Hassett and her teammates delivered, and returned with their second national championship in the past three years.

“When they made the announcement that we had won I was overcome with all sorts of emotions,” the senior admitted. “I was upset that it was my last time competing for UMass, but also very excited that I could walk away from UMass with another national title.”

Like a true captain, Hassett did not panic after the squad came in second place after the first day of competition.

“When we finished our performance on Friday, we were not really sure what was going to happen. [UMD Head Coach] Scott [Bouchard] and I told the team that by whatever happens we were proud of them, we hit it and that was all we could of done.”

Hassett was actually quite confident in her team’s opening day performance. “Being in second place after the first day I think put us in a good spot. We knew what we did wrong and what we had to do to fix it. Being in second just made us work harder and want it that much more.”

In fact, she was so confident in her team’s Sunday performance (and Slippery Rock’s slip-ups), that she knew the outcome before it was announced.

“After watching their routine and seeing the touch-outs in tumbling and stunts coming down, we knew we had it.”

While many people would probably wilt under the pressure that comes with leading such a winning group of girls, Hassett never let it get to her. Of course, it helped that she was leading such a calm group of performers and had a wise coach by her side.

“We did not really feel any added pressure because our program always does well when we go down there. Scott does well at keeping us calm and letting us know whatever happens, happens.”

Dealing with pressure wasn’t the only problem Hassett faced during the competition. She had the difficult task of keeping the squad focused, knowing they were missing a few days of classes to stay in sunny Florida.

“Florida can be a very distracting place. The girls know before we get there that there is no laying in the sun or swimming because we do not want our girls to get tired, sunburnt, or dehydrated because it could effect their performance. Cheerleading is our main priority; that is what we came down to Florida to do.”

So what’s next for Hassett? Well, more cheerleading, of course! She will be cheering for an all-star team called East Elite, also coached by Bouchard.

“Cheerleading is a huge part of my life and I will be doing it for a very long time until my body cannot handle it anymore,” she joked.

Despite the pressures and expectations which are associated with being a UMD cheerleading captain, Hassett enjoyed taking on all challenges and coming home with a national championship.

“Being able to be captain for such an amazing program was the best thing that could happen. It taught me so much about motivating and leading a team.”

Allie Feldman discusses victory

By Jeff Bogosian

When the UMass Dartmouth Cheerleading Team returned to UMD, after they won the National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, Allie Feldman, a junior on the team, agreed to answer a few questions for The Torch.

Jeff: How’s it feel to be national champions again?

Allie: Phenomenal, unreal, I don’t really know what else to say.

Jeff: You girls were in second after the first day of competition; what was the attitude of the team after that day?

Allie: We were a little bummed out at first, but it was expected because we had a couple minor mistakes. But Scott [Bouchard, our coach] reminded us that it’s harder to stay in first both days because there is so much pressure and that as long as we did the same thing as prelims, with the few corrections, that we would be fine, so the coaches were a huge part of keeping our spirits up.

Jeff: What adjustments did you girls make after the first day?

Allie: No we did not change anything…that is the big mistake that a lot of teams make — trying to alter their routine between prelims and finals, because then they are not as confident with the new changes and have more of a chance of messing up.

Jeff: Once you had finished your routine the second day, were you girls confident that you still had a shot at the title?

Allie: Absolutely. We knew from seeing the teams at prelims that Slippery Rock was our main competition and we had a high score from our 45 second routine which is added into the scores of finals, so that helps boost our score as well. We knew we hit our routine better than ever before. Then we just had to stand back, watch Slippery Rock, and hope for the best.

Jeff: What was it like waiting for Slippery Rock to perform, knowing that they were the only team left that could take the top spot from you?

Allie: It is the most suspenseful feeling ever. We were all just standing there, unable to breathe, praying they wouldn’t hit as well as we did.

Jeff: What went through your head when the score for Slippery Rock came up and you girls were still in first?

Allie: Well that was it… They were the last team to go and we beat them. We went absolutely insane with excitement.

Jeff: After winning the title, what was the next day in Florida like?

Allie: Amazing! We had accomplished what we came there for and I’m pretty sure we were the happiest people in Daytona. We took team pictures on the beach and then just enjoyed the perfect weather and being national champs.

Jeff: What was the plane ride home like knowing that you were going back to school as national champions? Did that massive trophy get its own seat?

Allie: Hahah, no. They had to disassemble it because it is so huge! But it was so great going home knowing that we had something to be so proud of… Holding two national titles in three years is an outstanding accomplishment and we’re hoping to get recognized more by the school now. But we definitely spent the plane ride home sleeping. Haha.

Jeff: How does this championship compare to the first one you won?

Allie: No matter what, it is the greatest feeling ever… But being able to take back the national title makes that feeling a thousand times better!