RAINDROPS: Our beginner team offers an introduction to the exciting sport of cheerleading. This is the youngest team (typically preschool through 1st graders new to cheer) and novice squad, focusing on basic tumbling, simple cheers and stunts, chants, dances and jumps, and learn age appropriate cheerleading skills to prepare for performing at exhibition events. The Raindrops team practices for 75-90 minutes once a week. Additional practices may be added on the spring floor to prepare for competitions. 

FLURRIES & THUNDER:
Our intermediate teams will transition from exhibition to competitive and are designed to continue building on fundamental entry level cheer skills including tumbling, cheers, stunts, chants, dances and jumps. Emphasis is placed on correct technique, form and building the proper foundation for safety and advancement. It is recommended that cheerleaders are enrolled in a tumbling class. Basic tumbling for this team includes: forward rolls, cartwheels, bridges, round-offs, and working toward front and back walkovers. This squad practices for 1.5 hours once a week in September, and a 2nd practice to be added starting in mid-October for Thunder, and tentatively in November for Flurries. Occasional spring floor practices to be added to prepare for competitions.

STORM: (Evaluations required for team placement)  Our competitive Level 1 team is designed to continue building on appropriate level cheer skills including tumbling, cheers, stunts, chants, dances and jumps. Emphasis is placed on correct technique, form and building the proper foundation for safety and advancement. Attention is directed toward developing the necessary strength and flexibility to enable the cheerleader to master the skills and to provide the physical basis needed for more advanced skills. It is required that Level 1 cheerleaders are enrolled in a tumbling class; a MLCA tumble class is available at a group rate. Level 1 tumbling skills: forward rolls, cartwheels, bridges, round-offs, front and back walkovers (working toward back handsprings). The squad practices two days during the week for two hours per practice for a total of 4 hours (including a 1 hour required tumbling class). Athletes must attend a 2-hour stunt clinic and a 2-day Cheer Choreography Camp at the beginning of the season in late August/early September.

LIGHTNING: (Evaluations required for team placement) Our Lightning team came in 5th in the Nation at the 2020 Recreational Cheer Championships in Orlando, FL and was invited back to compete in April 2021!  Our competitive Level 2 team focuses on continuing to build cheer skills including tumbling, cheers, stunts, chants, dances and jumps. Emphasis is placed on correct technique and form, plus building the proper foundation for safety and advancement. Additional emphasis is directed toward developing the necessary strength and flexibility to enable the cheerleader to master the skills and to provide the physical basis needed for more advanced skills. It is mandatory that Level 2 cheerleaders are enrolled in a tumbling class; MLCA offers a team tumble class at a group rate. Levels 2 encompasses connected tumbling; skills include cartwheels, round-offs, standing back handsprings, jumps into back handsprings, connected running tumbling (e.g. round-off into a back handspring). The squad practices two days during the week including a 2 hour practice and a 2.5 hour practice (includes 1 hour required tumble class and 1.5 hours of spring floor practice).  A third day of practice may be added as needed during the season to prepare for competitions. Athletes must attend a 2-hour stunt clinic and a 2-day Cheer Choreography Camp at the beginning of the season in late August/early September. 

HAIL: (Evaluations required for team placement) Our competitive Level 3 team is new for the 2021-2022 season!  This is our highest-level team that focuses on executing previously learned skills including tumbling, motions, stunts, chants, jumps, and dance. Emphasis is placed on excellent technique and form, plus knowledge of the proper foundation for safety and advancement. Additional emphasis is directed toward increasing the necessary strength and flexibility to enable the cheerleader to execute the skills and to provide the physical basis needed for more advanced skills. It is mandatory that Level 3 cheerleaders are enrolled in a tumbling class; MLCA offers a team tumble class at a group rate (in lieu private classes are permitted however group class encouraged). Levels 3 encompasses more connected tumbling; skills include, jump hurdle round-off/front walkovers into back handsprings, standing two back handsprings, jumps into back handsprings, connected running tumbling (e.g. round-off/front walkover into multiple back handsprings or back tuck). This team requires more advanced stunting and tumbling including tucks. Athletes on the Level 3 team are expected to have mastered a majority of level 2 skills and be prepared for the next level of stunting and tumbling at the beginning of the season. The squad practices two days during the week for 2-2.5 hours each practice (including the required tumble class and spring floor practice). A third day of practice may be added as needed during the season to prepare for competitions. Athletes must attend a 2-hour stunt clinic and a 2-day Cheer Choreography Camp at the beginning of the season in late August/early September.