For 2 minutes and 30 seconds on the competition mat, the cheers, chants and stunts from the Cheer Extreme DMV鈥檚 Supernovas squad don鈥檛 stop.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such an adrenaline rush,鈥� said Sarah Septoff, one of the team鈥檚 coaches. 鈥淲hen the lights hit, it just reels you in.鈥�
The athletes practice nonstop, modifying routines to nail each feat.
Each athlete on the Montgomery County-based squad has a disability.
鈥淵ou work so hard for each skill and once you get it, the feeling of putting it on the competition mat with hundreds of people watching you is so surreal,鈥� said Steph Malfatti, a team member and one of the coaches. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just the most gratifying feeling.鈥�
Malfatti, 27, was born with , a rare condition that affects many of her major organs. She is also blind.
She’s cheered for years, even competing in college. She said a major draw of the sport is developing lifelong friendships.
“You鈥檙e not by yourself,” she told 91欧美激情. “You鈥檙e with a team. 鈥� It鈥檚 just amazing to be a part of that [supportive environment].”
The coed team is competitive and travels to about five contests each year. Members practice once a week.
As in any sport, injuries can happen. The team adjusts routines and adds strength training to avoid bruises and bumps, and to increase athleticism.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about working on the fundamentals,鈥� Malfatti said. 鈥淣ot only that, we focus a lot on getting stronger. Strength conditioning and confidence are really important for everyone.鈥�
earlier this year in Dallas, the Supernovas say it鈥檚 time to expand the team.
Cheer Extreme DMV, which founded the group, is .
Athletes of all ages, with physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities are welcome to participate, Malfatti said.
“We鈥檙e hoping we鈥檒l have a level one and a level two team next year,鈥� she said. 鈥淐heer Abilities has become a worldwide thing. It鈥檚 for anybody who鈥檚 thinking about it.鈥�
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