La’Darius Marshall/Instagram
Look outBring It On, there are new cheerleaders on our screens, and they’re performing gravity-defying stunts and capturing our hearts. Netflix’s new documentary series,Cheer, follows a Texas cheerleading team from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, that has won 14 National Cheerleaders Association National Championships and five grand national wins.
Incredible feats of athleticism aside, the cast of cheerleaders have real-life problems they are coping with, so after you watch them flip in the air like superheroes, you can cry over their losses, gains and personal struggles. They’re not just cheerleaders, they’re a family. By the sixth and final episode, they’ll beyourfamily.
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After watching Head Coach Monica Aldama champion the athletes both on and off the mat, we only count in 1, 3, 5 and 7s. We are conditioning to make mat for Nationals. We are doing 50 push ups every time we drop one of our teammates. Our mat talk? Unmatched! Our routines? They’re full-out! Our hair? Teased to the heavens! In other words, we’ve become totally obsessed. And we’re not alone. Celebrities likeChrissy TeigenandReese Witherspoonare in the same boat.
Teigen is practicing her splits and informing her friend that she’s “not gonna make mat, bitch.”
Want to follow the action now that the season has come to an end? We’ve tracked down your favorite Navarro cheerleaders on Instagram to make for easy following.
Spoilers ahead if you haven’t finished binge-watching!
Monica Aldama
Aldama is known as “the Queen” and she deserves her spot on the throne. Remember inBring It Onwhen Kirsten Dunst tells her teammates, “This is not a democracy, it’s a cheerocracy?” We were truly shocked that line never came out of Monica’s mouth. She’s like a badass version ofFriday Night Lights' Coach Taylor, but in heels. Mom to all who know her, her tough love is unmatched and we would very much like for her to adopt us, thank you!
Kapena Kea
The student assistant coach won our hearts when we finally got to hear him open up about his experience as a cheerleader under Monica’s wing.
Andy Cosferent
The team choreographer and right-hand man to Monica certainly made the team’s 14th win at Nationals possible!
Jerry Harris
Sweet, sweet Jerry deserves the whole entire world and more … but that’s justeveryone’s opinion. We’d give him a follow just on the off-chance that he posts a video featuring his incredible mat talk a.k.a. what he does to pump up his teammates while they perform.
Gabi Butler
Lexi Brumback
From the start of the series, Lexi’s story made her a fan favorite. She was the only girl tumbler who could land a double full (a.k.a. the girl who could tumble like the boys) and her chilled-out attitude totally conflicted with everything we thought we knew about cheerleaders. At the end of the series, we learn that she was kicked off the squad after getting into some trouble, but don’t worry,she’s back at Navarro!
Morgan Simianer
Morgan was the underdog all season who eventually got to prove to everyone that hard work (and a few nearly cracked ribs?) really do pay off. Her heartbreaking backstory makes her success even sweeter … even if we worried about whether or not she would point her toes far more than we cared to.
La’Darius Marshall
Confident and at times misunderstood, La’Darius took being extra to a whole new level. We cried real tears when we watched his brother — who spent much of their childhood trying to make La’Darius “man up” — cry after watching his performance at Nationals.
Mackenzie Sherburn A.K.A. Sherbs
#JusticeForSherbs. The flyer affectionately known as Sherbs had us screaming “WHERE WERE THE SPOTTERS!?” and “50 PUSH-UPS ARE NOT ENOUGH PUNISHMENT!” when she fell from a stunt and injured her arm. Don’t worry, she’s doing just fine and cheering at Texas Tech.
Allie Ross
Allie stepped up after Sherbs' injury and, even though it was frustrating for her (and La’Darius) at times, she absolutely ended up nailing the routine and shining as Top Girl in the pyramid.
Shannon Woolsey
James Thomas
The stunter/tumbler (a.k.a. stumbler) worked hard his rookie season and deserves a follow, if not only for his amazing smile!
TT Barker
We physically ached for T.T. after he brought out Monica’s alter-ego, Annette (if you know, you know). After competing against her orders for another team and injuring his back, he had to practice through the pain anyway. Talk about tough love.
Austin Bayles
Bayles is doing great, even after giving all of us a heart attack when he got injuredin the middle of Nationals, forcing the team to stop midway through and start over. He’s with Sherbs at Texas Tech now!
Us on our way to follow everyone on Instagram:
source: people.com
