By Glen Rosales
Special to the SUN

Building for now and into the future is the name of the game for the Pojoaque Valley cheer squad, which enters Saturday’s state spirit competition at The Pit in Albuquerque, looking to gain experience.

“I feel we’re confident and ready,” coach Cassie Martinez said. “They worked incredibly hard all season. As long as we go out with confidence and excitement and we perform at our best and represent our team and our community of Pojoaque with pride, I feel that is successful. I know what we’re up against.”

What the Elkettes are up against is a loaded Class 4A field with dominant programs that traditionally have performed lights out at the state competition. So tempering expectations while continuing to raise that bar of what can be accomplished with continuity in terms of participation is the goal.

The team will take 19 girls to the competition, down a bit from the start of the season, but still a solid core group of athletes. And since only five are seniors, Pojoaque has a real chance to make strong strides in the coming years.

“We started out with 28 girls and I’m really happy about that,” Martinez said. “But I also know the challenges in this year-round sport, and I feel like 19, that’s not too bad.”

The key, she said, is finding the right athletes who are willing to put in the grind to get better.

“At the end, this group of girls is the ones that really have the heart for the sport because they continued to keep their grades up and they showed up non-stop all season,” Martinez said. “For me it’s about building, so I feel like these are good numbers, so I’m excited about that.”

And now all that hard work will pay off as the group gets to trot down The Pit ramp and show what it can do, especially given the progress the team has made throughout the season.

“It’s made us stronger, got us ready for state,” Martinez said of the tough slate of training and competition. “They’ve been putting in so many hours of practice. Our routines are set and we’re just going over them and supporting each other. All of that has built that strong team bond.”

That’s all part of the program’s maturation process, she said.

“The girls have shown a lot of growth this year,” Martinez said. “They’ve shown dedication and heart throughout the season. They worked really hard together and have come together as a true team. I really enjoyed this year. We haven’t had any drama, so it’s been good.”

Instead of drama, the Elkettes have been trying to build each other up, Martinez said.

“The biggest thing is our confidence as a team,” she said of a positive change the squad has undergone. “Not just in performance, but just overall in the way they represent themselves to the crowd and their fans and everyone.”

Overcoming the 2024-25 school year, when things were kind of ragged, was a big part of this season’s journey.

“They had a rough season last year, so it took a lot,” Martinez said. “They had to trust me coming back and then trust each other. All that put together has made a huge difference in our performances. I feel like when we go out there now, as opposed to the beginning of the season, we’re confident on the mat. It’s good to see them push each other to get better and support each other.”

So in the end, it’s been a season the team can look back on with satisfaction, no matter what happens Saturday.

“I’m really happy with how we’re doing,” Martinez said. “I don’t feel like the season was stressful. I guess rewarding is the best way to say it. We made a lot of memories. It’s been a good season.”