You shine brightest when the lights shine on you!

The 2018 - 2019 Fremont Gems returned this season with 10 returning cheerleaders from their 2017 - 2018 team. The girls had some excitement entering the new season coming off their National Championship last year, but knew they would need to recruit some new blood to replenish the 3 strong cheerleaders the team lost. During tryouts, the team recruited 7 new ladies to fill out the roster and hoped that the chemistry would equal the success that the team had reached last season. After several weeks of practice, the team began to lose some of their new members. By the time the team competed in their first local competition the team was set with 14 members. The 4 new members seemed to have been a great fit. The new ladies were perfect complements to the existing core.

The season for the Gems was not perfect to say the least. In order to get to their goal of becoming National Champions for a second time at the USA Competition National Finals and win their first Jamz Nationals, the ladies had to put in a lot of work. The practices were not only tough, but at times they were frustrating. In the week leading up to all the competitions, the ladies had the parents and coaches worried as they were not executing their routines. Fortunately, the ladies came together with their routine when they needed to.

The Ladies competed in four local qualifiers for Nationals. They competed in Stockton and Daly City for the Jamz Nationals. Coming in 1st place at both of these competitions. As for the USA Competition National qualifiers, the ladies competed in Santa Cruz and Tracy. Like the Jamz qualifiers, they finished 1st each at each event.

The site for their first National Championships was in Las Vegas, at the Orleans Hotel Arena. The Gems came in as an underdog against the reigning National Champion “One Dream Cheer Believe”, who was in the hunt to repeat. The Gems laid out a perfect performance, hitting all their stunts, working in unison and showing off the best of their “Sass”. The ladies left it all on the mat.

Prior to the awards announcement, us parents knew the team brought their best effort and saw some great performances from the rest of the teams. We were all asking each other, “Did we do it? Does our small cheer group hurt us on points? What are the judges looking for?”. As parents, we felt the pressure of some real good competition. We had to wait well over an hour to hear the announcements.

As the awards ceremony began, all the girls were together holding hands with the coaches while us parents were up in the stadium seats, waiting on pins and needles. Awards started with the 3rd place team being announced. As the Reigning Champions were announced we looked at each other in shock as they did a great job with their routine. We were boggled by their 3rd place finish. We all started to squeeze tighter as the 2nd place team was announced. You could feel the anxiety in the air prior to the announcement of the 1st place award. When our Fremont Gems were announced as the 2018 - 2019 National Champions, you could feel the excitement, the sighs of relief and especially, all the hugs between all the families. The tears were flowing. We could not wait to see and hug our daughters after their great accomplishment.

After winning their first National of the season, the Gems only had 3 days to celebrate their accomplishment before starting preparation for their second Nationals of the cheer season. The Gems coaches would not let the ladies sit on their laurels. After each competition, they switched up various portions of the routine to keep it fresh and different. They had only 4 weeks to prepare for their final competition and make their adjustments.

The final competition was at the USA Competition Nationals, at the Anaheim Convention Center. Unlike the Jamz National Competition where the Gems entered as the underdog, the Gems entered this competition as a returning champ and the favorite to repeat. As the groups began to compete, it seemed (just like in Las Vegas) that it was going to be a close call. The ladies, as returning champs, had to wait to go on last. The teams before them brought their best. Although the Gems did not get to see their competition perform, they knew that they needed to bring it.

As the girls were getting ready to perform all the families made their way to the front to see the performance. Unlike at Jamz the girls had to incorporate a cheer prior to their routine. The girls were loud and in unison with their cheer and had the audience chiming in. As they finished the cheer and the music kicked in, you could feel the excitement from all the parents. The Gems did not disappoint as they continued to execute and show professionalism, that is often not seen in ladies with the age range of 8 to 12.

Once the girls completed their routine, the awards ceremonies followed 15 minutes later. We had no time to really analyze the situation like we did in Las Vegas; however just like in Vegas, we were all feeling the anxiety awaiting the announcement. The Gems were all bunched up on stage holding hands and you can tell they couldn’t wait to hear the final decision.

As the 3rd Place team was announced, some of us felt like they had done much better than 3rd, but we were not the judges. When the 2nd place team was announced you could see that we were all in full attention to hear the 1st place award. As the 1st Place trophy and banner came to the front of the stage you could hear the announcement “ The 2018-19 first place champion, the Fremont Gems!” The excitement from all the ladies, coaches and parents could be heard throughout the venue. The Fremont Gems had just become back to back USA Competition National Champions. They had completed the goal they had set to achieve back in July.

As a proud parent, I personally would like to thank you all, Gems, coaches and parents. This team was not carried by one individual cheerleader, it was not carried by a flyer, a base or even a backstop. Like they say in every team sport there is no “I” in team. This team, each girl from the youngest to the oldest, the shortest to the tallest and whatever their responsibilities throughout their routine, they executed perfectly.. They had only one opportunity each time they performed and they handled their business. I know that my daughter would not be a 3-time National Champ without you. You have all become Cheer Sisters for Life!

Oz Jimenez
Proud Gems Parent