On Dec. 13, the McIntosh Chiefettes start off the season at Etowah High School for their first competition of the season.  Head Coach Carmen Yarbrough is extending practices and cleaning the dances in preparation for it.

“We are trying to work in and out of basketball schedules to try and get on the gym floor, since that is the surface we compete on,” Yarbrough said.

The season ends with the state championship, so between now and then,  Yarbrough helps them through each one by setting small goals to try and get at every competition. For example, a small goal may be to get the team’s kicks higher or their turns sharper.

“The first comp is always just a get out there and see what’s possible and to look at the scores. We try to get small little wins based off the judges’ scores. For example if we got a 92, we try to get a 94 at the next one,” Yarbrough said.

A strong mindset and work ethic also play a big part in shaping how practice works and how well they can rise to the top of the competitions.

“[The Chiefettes are] all about working together and not about working over each other. This year we are progressing quicker at this time of the year than we did last year,” Yarbrough said.

Another way they are progressing is with the help from two students who help lead the team. Mady Kuehn and Caroline Moses, a senior and a junior are both captains for the Chiefettes.

“[Kuehn and Moses] are vocal at practice with encouraging and helping corrections and things like that. There are also other kids that tend to step up too, but no one steps on each other’s toes. Like I said, they all have the same mindset,” Yarbrough said.

Instead of Yarbrough thinking “we have to beat them and we have to win,’” she has a different approach to competitions.

“My motto is that we have to do us and we have to be the best that we can be. As long as we are doing that, then it’s up to what we are putting out there and what the judges like,” Yarbrough said.