The Neelyville cheerleaders took the court on Homecoming night to perform their routine like any other game.
Announcing the squad onto the court, Cheer Coach Brandi Lumby told the crowd, "The dance you are about to see was chosen to be performed at the Final Four."
This was the first time the girls learned they were chosen to perform at the Final Four basketball tournament on Friday, March 9, for the second year in a row.
"I found out over Christmas break and wanted to surprise the girls," Lumby said. "It was hard to keep it from them for that long."
Asking each day if she heard anything, Lumby said she would simply reply, "not yet" and told the girls she was not sure when the results would be announced.
The squad of 12 girls recorded a routine to be uploaded to YouTube through MSHAA and were chosen to perform during the Final Four tournament in Springfield, Mo., on the campus of Missouri State University.
In addition to the cheerleaders performing at the Final Four, Lumby said they were hopeful both the boys and girls basketball teams could also make the trip with the squad on the heels of great seasons for both teams.
"We are really proud of our boys and girls teams and would really love to have them all there with us," Lumby said. "Our fingers are crossed they get to come with us."
Still in contention, the girls will face Hartville at 6 p.m. tonight in Mountain Grove in a sectional matchup. With a win this evening, the team would have one more game to win on their path to the Final Four with the cheerleading squad.
After attending summer camp, Lumby said the squad's goal was to incorporate pyramids and advanced stunts into their routine.
"We wanted to up it this year," she said.
The cheerleaders were able to add a pyramid along with flips and a liberty to their routine this year.
No parameters were set for the routine except for time. The squad has six minutes from the time they hit the floor to exit.
The six minutes includes getting their mat on the floor, which was sponsored by People's Community Bank, setting up, performing and clearing the floor.
Lumby anticipates having eight girls on the squad who performed at the Final Four last year as an advantage.
"Nerves were a huge issue the first go around," Lumby said. "Knowing what to expect helps."
Although several of the girls and Lumby have experienced the Final Four performance before, there will be a couple of changes this year the squad will have to encounter.
First, the location of the Final Four will be relocated to Springfield, as opposed to Columbia, Mo., as in years past.
"This year we get to perform the routine more than once," Lumby said. The squad will perform during three games at the Final Four tournament.
Lumby believes nerves will come into factor during the first performance and then the girls will actually be able to enjoy the second performance after working through their nerves.
To help combat the nerves, Lumby said the squad is taking opportunities to perform in front of larger crowds, such as at pep rallies to prepare.
Senior Cheer Captain Hana-Kate Cassinger and junior Co-captain Haley Edwards, who both attended the Final Four last year, have been offering advice to their fellow cheerleaders about how to handle the nerves and changes.
"I have been telling the girls to smile even though they will be super nervous," Cassinger said. "They know the routine, so I'm telling them to just breathe and they will get through it."
Last year, Cassinger said the music messed up during the squad's performance, so she is also warning the girls to prepare for anything.
Freshman Allison Goodman will be making her first trip to the Final Four with the squad.
"They are all telling me what a great experience it is to perform in front of that many people," she said.
Normally shy, Goodman hopes the experience will help her step out of her comfort zone.
Edwards has been taking her own advice of trying not to worry and enjoy the experience as well.
"This is really exciting getting to experience this all together before Hana-Kate leaves," Edwards said of the senior captain. "For a couple of days we are all together and get to hang out in a hotel, make great memories and focus on what we all enjoy doing."