2009 Candlelight Ceremony

Coach's Reflections: The passing of the flame is not just the bright burning candlelight, but the flame of tradition, friendship, family, togetherness, and love. It's the passing of the candle, flame touching flame, and heart touching heart – a tradition of remembrance to officially end this great season. I want to thank parents and friends who were able to us for our second candlelight ceremony. .. Something I hope will become a cheerleading tradition here at CLA. Parents, thank you for your support this season and allowing your daughters to be cheerleaders. Senior parents, you know these four years have flown by. You gave us your little girls and now we have in front of us the beautiful young women they have become. They have each been an integral part of this team and they will be greatly missed! Parents, especially freshmen parents, you will be amazed at how quickly these years pass. Speaking from experience, I can’t encourage you enough to enjoy this time now with your daughters. Watch them perform, enjoy being a part of this experience with them because before you know it, it will be over. We have had a great year. Cheering for football was a lot of fun and a good new experience. We learned a lot: new cheers & dances, how football cheering was different than basketball … we learned a lot about each other and about working together to achieve and get better, and, all-in-all, the cheerleaders did a great job. We were able to go to a tournament this year which was a new experience. It was a pleasure to travel with the girls as they represented CLA well and I was happy to see them uphold, reflect, project the goals and ideas of CLA being good public relations ambassadors for the school and its athletic programs and representing Christ at all times. I received many complements from the parents at Calvary Christian as well as the hotel staff and others, so I was very encouraged and pleased about that. As a matter of fact I receive complements all of the time about the cheerleaders – that you perform well together, that you look good, that you represent CLA well and help to create school spirit, pride, and loyalty. These have been my goals since I began: To promote within each individual cheerleader good sportsmanship and leadership qualities, as well as to help the competitive spirit and develop responsibility, to encourage honest effort, and to further develop character. I know I maintain high standards and sometimes the girls get frustrated with me, but the whole idea is to teach teamwork and pride in a quality performance by maintaining these high standards. And, most of all doing all this while growing closer in our walk with Christ, as well as letting Him shine through us! It is not always easy for us to shine as Christians. There is no doubt that some days are better than others, yet we strive for a ‘constant’ walk and a constant shining. It is with the confidence of knowing that we have been chosen in Christ Jesus - prior to us even taking our first breath in this world - that should encourage us to shine for Him. Jesus our Light in this world. We are found complete in Him. He is our refuge and our strength. He unites us and serves as our guiding light in times of challenge. Never be afraid to shine bright. If we walk in the Light, then there is no doubt that we shall shine. Remember that at the end of today, when the candles are blown out, His light will still be burning within you, and the flames of truth, love, and service to God will never die.