Hi, readers.
So today was MPA. Whatever the hell that stands for, I forget.
Like in previous years, this throw-away competition was held at SVSU. This competition is a stand-alone, having nothing to do with Regionals (that we had a couple weeks ago) and States (which will be coming up next weekend.) Since it isn't as big of a deal as States, the pressure wasn't there for the girls to give it 110%, so the morning process of getting ready wasn't nearly as chaotic and teary as some competitions have been in the past (thank God.)
As usual, I was cracking the whip to make sure my family was out the door at a decent time in the morning in order to get to the SVSU gym early. We were able to get there when they were admitting pom performers, which is always a half an hour to an hour before the general public.
However, like in previous years, the idiots working the door somehow allow parents to enter alongside the pommers if you act like you're supposed to be there early. This allowed Yours Truly to nab me and Erik's usual go-to table, which we positioned in our usual spot - right in the back of the bleachers, where our wives sit.
Chairs are way easier on one's back then bleachers are, folks, and we've perfected the art of watching six hours of pom on any given Sunday. Some pom parents play checkers. We play chess.
Anyway, I know I've said this before at some point, but at MPA competitions the judges don't award points (like they do at Regionals and States), and instead rank each team within their designated brackets (Middle School, JV, Varsity Class C/D, etc. etc.) Being at the JV level meant our girls faced some fiercer competition this year, facing off against a couple powerhouse teams from downstate. So going in the girls weren't overly optimistic about their chances, but hopeful nonetheless.
In the end, they scored third place out of five teams, and not in last place. . . so there's that. They looked pretty good, but you could tell they weren't as tight as they were at Regionals - that's something they'll need to work on between now and next Sunday, when we all head down to Eastern Michigan University for States.
Anyway, here's the calm before the storm. Enjoy. . .
 |
| Abby and Midland JV take the 'stage' (not sure which one of these is Abby, you'd have to zoom in.) |
 |
| The four pods, spread out in formation. Abby is the lone pommer at the top left - the other two kids in her pod were out sick this time around (but hopefully they'll be back for States, otherwise that's likely to cost us some points.) |
 |
| The 'fire' routine - hence the yellow and red poms - kicks off. |
 |
| Notice how this pic is lit/colored different than the previous pic? Abby was able to screenshot these from the 'official photographer's' order page. We weren't about to pay for these prints - they're not all that great, and only a click or so above what I was able to do with my phone from across the gymnasium. |
 |
| They did pretty good, but they weren't as polished as they had been at Regionals, for sure. |
 |
| (Pretty sure that's Abby fourth from the left in the kick line.) |
 |
| Walking off stage following the routine, morale high. |
 |
| As the next team performed in from of the audience, the aforementioned photographer snapped a bunch of kids from the team behind the giant SVSU divider (that splits the gym in half.) |
 |
| Abby and Ella (of course.) |
 |
| With another one of her close friends on the team, Brooklyn. |
 |
| Halfway through the Class C/D varsity bracket, we had to wait for like 20 minutes for a janitor to come out and clean up vomit (yes, vomit - some poor girl puked on the gym floor during their routine.) No idea why they couldn't just grab some paper towels from the concession stand and wipe it up real fast - Erik assumed it was some union stipulation that only janitors can clean something up at the university level, but who knows. |
The People's Champion
 |
| Following all of the performances, all the Pom teams circled up - per the usual - to await the judges' rankings. |
 |
| Midland JV takes 3rd (out of 5. . .) |
 |
| Following the announcement of the rankings - and encore performances from all the teams that took first place in each bracket - parents were allowed to come out on the floor to collect their kids and take pictures. Somebody got this one of Ella, Harper and Abby. |
 |
| The Cannonball gets a .5x of her sister and her 3rd Place ribbon. |
 |
| A super-pixelated team picture, courtesy of a screenshot taken from Instagram and then texted to Kris. That's about the best we got, folks. |
 |
| Sister selfie. |
 |
| Kris got a few of Abby posing with the team's MPA trophy. |
 |
| Heading back to the car, following yet another six hours of pom bullshit. |
 |
| Next up, States. See ya next week, kids. |
- Brian
So today was MPA. Whatever the hell that stands for, I forget.
As usual, I was cracking the whip to make sure my family was out the door at a decent time in the morning in order to get to the SVSU gym early. We were able to get there when they were admitting pom performers, which is always a half an hour to an hour before the general public. 
However, like in previous years, the idiots working the door somehow allow parents to enter alongside the pommers if you act like you're supposed to be there early. This allowed Yours Truly to nab me and Erik's usual go-to table, which we positioned in our usual spot - right in the back of the bleachers, where our wives sit.
Anyway, I know I've said this before at some point, but at MPA competitions the judges don't award points (like they do at Regionals and States), and instead rank each team within their designated brackets (Middle School, JV, Varsity Class C/D, etc. etc.) Being at the JV level meant our girls faced some fiercer competition this year, facing off against a couple powerhouse teams from downstate. So going in the girls weren't overly optimistic about their chances, but hopeful nonetheless. 
