Stephen Bateman
Being a cheerleader for a squad like N.C. State’s, which finished third at National Cheerleaders Association nationals in 2007 and has won four national titles, is something in itself.
But for Chris Hartshorn, a senior in sport management, and Holly Humphries, a sophomore in animal science, their experience with cheerleading goes even beyond the team. The pair finished 17th in the Universal Cheerleading Association Partner Stunt Nationals on Jan. 18 in Orlando, Fla.
The two also have become regulars at teaching their trade to college cheerleaders across the country. They did it for a few weeks this summer and have recently taught camps at Coastal Carolina and Elon.
The pair got the chance to compete in the Partners event when coach Harold Trammel selected Hartshorn, who teammates call “House,” for the competition.
“I’ve been working really hard since I’ve been here, and that was my reward, I guess, was Harold told me he would like me to go to UCA Partner Stunt [nationals], let me pick a partner,” Hartshorn said. “I worked with [Humphries] most of the year last year, so that was a pretty easy choice to take her.”
Hartshorn and Humphries put together a routine and sent in the video to the competition, which ranked their routine No. 20 out of the 30 videos it accepted into the event. The two improved on that ranking in the actual competition, coming in 17th.
Humphries said the teaching she and Hartshorn have done created a comfort level for them in the Stunt Partner competition.
“When we went to the competition, we knew a lot of people because we had taught actually a lot of them, even people we were competing against,” Humphries said.
Hartshorn noted that their experience competing at NCA nationals with the team in the past was also helpful.
“It helps a lot because you’re used to being in front of people, so even though this was more individualized. We’re used to being out on the floor and being in front of people and having people yelling and doing elite skills,” he said. “Even though these skills that we competed [in] were a little more elite than what we’re used to competing as a team, we definitely had the advantage because we’ve been in front of people, and we’ve done the elite skills before.”
Humphries, meanwhile, said she hoped it wasn’t the last time she and Hartshorn competed in the Partners event.
“It was a good experience for both of us,” she said. “Hopefully we’ll be doing it again next year and placing higher next year.”
Hartshorn said there was once talk about the State and Carolina squads practicing together to help UNC’s squad improve, but that it never worked out. Humphries said the Tar Heels cheerleaders might have some things to learn from her and Hartshorn, but that the UNC cheerleaders haven’t had a camp with the pair just yet.
“UNC hasn’t had one yet,” she said with a laugh. “They may need to.”