Robinson Cheerleading has had a rough season. In their first competition at Brandon, the team came in eighth place out of ninth, a difficult loss for the squad.

Soon after the competition, coach Jeff Melesky tweeted on the @rhscheer account: Wasn’t a very good day for RHS cheer. Wake up call needed. We will get better.

In 2012, Robinson Cheer won the regional championship and then went on to win the state championship. Last year, the team placed eighth in the state finals. However, with only seven returning varsity cheerleaders the team this year, they are not able to compete at a level they once did.

“A lot of our team did not realize how competitive the competition would be,” captain Hannah Duncan (’18) said. “There are only 7 of us returning so it was basically everyone’s first competition.”

Melesky added to Duncan’s sentiments.

“Robinson has always been a top tier team in Hillsborough County,” he said. “And for us to not be in that same position is tough.”

Not one single factor was responsible for this performance, but the team is taking active steps towards a better performance at their next competition by mixing up their dance routines and staying more focused in practice.

“As a senior captain I feel responsible for this performance and I am going to do my best to make sure that at practice there are no more period[s] where we stray off topic, we need to stay focused, be serious and most importantly keep our determination to win,” captain Lauren Cohen (’17) said.

“I think this was a wake up call for all of us and how far we are from where we need to be but I know the next competition will be a lot better.”