MDC Cheer And Spirit Team Wants To Know If You’ve Got The Right Moves

Do you have good dance moves and spunk? Then you might be a good candidate for the Miami Dade College Cheer and Spirit Team. 

The organization has open spots for bases, backspotters and flyers. 

“[Cheering] teaches you patience and how to communicate with others, and you make great friendships,” said Jada Garcia, a flyer on the team. 

To audition, candidates must pay a $10 fee and wear black shorts, a white/royal blue T-shirt and athletic shoes. Tryouts consist of learning new dances, chants and jumps.

The team practices Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Tuesdays, they practice at Kendall Campus—11011 S.W. 104 Street, Room G-208—and on Wednesdays they practice at the gym at A1 Athletics, 20841 Johnson St., in Pembroke Pines. The practices consist of warm-up conditioning, stretches, practice chants, jumps, stunts, tumbles and dance routines. 

They also host a summer camp for people who do not have experience. The camp helps potential members build up stamina, learn routines and the basics of cheerleading. 

During the season, the Cheer and Spirit Team performs at Miami Dolphin games, University of Miami football games and events such as Rolling Loud at Hard Rock Stadium. At MDC, they cheer at men’s and women’s basketball games at Club Rush and during I Am MDC Day.

Their hard work has paid off. This past April, the team won the All Out Showdown Championships at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The team placed first in the collegiate division where they did a variety of stunts, had a pyramid routine and a tumbling sequence. It was the squad’s first-ever team competition.

“It was really intense, a lot of practice, sweat, and stress, but in the end, we hit everything,” Garcia said. 

Being part of the team requires a lot of time and dedication, but the tumblers say it’s well-worth the training. 

“It’s a memorable experience to have while at MDC,” said team captain Jessica Torres. “You get to be a part of games, activities and competitions. It’s something you’ll be able to look back on and be glad you joined the cheer team.”

For more information, contact the Cheer and Spirit Team @mdc_cheer on Instagram.