States

What's up, sports fans. 

This weekend saw the culmination of months' worth of Abby's hard work in pom, with Midland Varsity Pom heading down to Eastern Michigan University for States (I forget the name of the pom association that runs it, it's something like MPAA or MPPA or MAPA or some crap, who knows.) Following their performance at Regionals (which was Heritage, if you'll recall), the girls landed themselves in the super-competitive Division I bracket, which pitted them against downstate juggernauts like Northville, Livonia, South Lyon, and others. 

More or less guaranteed to get their asses handed to them, seeing how Midland is relatively small in comparison, but everyone was stoked that they placed in the elite division to begin with.

This year's States showcase went down like it has the previous couple years that Abby's been involved with it. We left Midland in the early afternoon on Saturday, checked into our hotel and rendezvoused with the Johnsons, grabbed some dinner, and then turned in for the night. The next morning, not quite as early as we have in previous years (seeing how the varsity team performs in the afternoon instead of the ass-crack of dawn), Abby got ready with her team while we all slowly got around for the day. Then, later on in the morning, we drove over to Eastern to their gymnasium for the showcase.

But at least Abby remembered her uniform this time around.

We had to endure about two dozen pom routines before Abby and Midland took the stage, and their routine went perfectly. . . but they still ended up coming in last place in Division I. This was more or less expected, seeing how the bigger, downstate schools had huge teams and a ridiculously large pool from which to pull pommers, and consequently their routines were insane. Abby and Ella were pretty indifferent with their placement, though - like I said, they were just happy they had made it into the big leagues this time around. We'll see what happens next year.

Anyway, here's States, gang. Enjoy. . .

Abby and Ella, hauling a bunch of their crap into the hotel.

Us and the Johnsons got neighboring rooms up on the third floor, which was convenient since Abby and Ella are attached at the hip.

Establishing headquarters.

They had Kris' name up on the room's TV when we checked in, just like at Disney World.

Some obligatory hotel room shots. . .

This bathroom counter top was soon littered with all the girls' crap they use on a daily basis.

Shower looked fancy enough, but the water pressure sucked.

The girls, settling in.

Abby microwaving one of the hotel's complimentary cookies you get at check-in.

Abby and Alayna's bed (Abby wanted a pic of her set up, complete with a blanket from home and a stuffed animal.) Both girls insisted on bringing their own blankets, which took up tons of space and I ended up carrying them to and from the car more often than not.

View from the room.

Abby and Ella, hanging out in the Johnson's room.

The rooms had these little footstools on wheels for some reason, so Erik decided to take it for a spin around his room.

This, of course, got the girls giving it a go. . .

These two kept themselves entertained with this for awhile - surprised no one pinched a finger or something.

Eventually a hotel employee came along and yelled at everybody and our fun was cut short. There's no way in hell I would care that much to say something to a guest, but maybe that dude really, really takes minimum-wage hotel service seriously.

Someone heard about this pub/bar in Ann Arbor and wanted to check it out. It was pretty busy inside, and the service was weird: instead of being served, you snagged a table yourself, then walked up to the counter to place your food and drink orders, then they'd bring out your orders once they were ready.

Wives on phones.

This burger was pretty awesome (as was the beer.)

Courtney and Kris watching the trailer for the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie.

Meanwhile, Alayna was out with a friend that she used to work with at Taco Bell last summer (who is now attending Eastern), and Abby was doing some team-bonding activities with the rest of the team back at the hotel (shown here.)

They're kind of a package deal.

On the way back from dinner, we popped into a party store to pick up a few drinks, then hung out in the Johnson's room for a couple hours to watch TV and unwind. I had to break my readers out in order to figure out how to open this tall boy that I picked up, it was far too complicated for me.

Kids as energy drinks?

After awhile, we decided to turn in for the night - we had a big day of watching teenage girls ahead of us coming soon.

The next morning, Abby and Ella began grooming preparations with the team downstairs.

A couple hours later, following breakfast, we checked out of our rooms and drove over to nearby Ypsilanti for the showcase. Abby and a few other girls didn't have their hair finished, so they had to roll in with their hair looking like this. She was super excited about this, and truly appreciated me taking her picture.

Surprisingly enough, we found seats without an issue (a lot of folks must have cleared out after the middle school performances earlier in the morning, who knows.) Now we just had to sit through four hours of pom routines. . .

Abigail, Abby and Brooklyn, getting ready during the JV performances.

Alayna brought a bunch of her homework to do while we were just sitting around doing nothing, and managed to take a few pics here and there.

Kris and Courtney use a phone's zoom in order to try and locate their children from across the stadium.

Following the judge's scores, there came the usual hour-long process of trying to locate your children and get them out of the venue. Lots of picture-taking went down during this chaos, but the team was able to get a pic before everyone was scattered to the four winds.

Abby took a bunch of pics with various other pommers, including this one with one of her coaches (who is on the elite Atomic Pom team.)

(No idea who this is.)

With Brooklyn.

No idea.

Also no idea.

This chick's a senior on the team, but I don't know her name.

Always have to get one with her other half. . .

Abby reluctantly agreed to take one with her family, her least favorite thing to do at these things.

Abby and Ella, gossiping about and trash-talking other kids as they packed up their things before leaving. These two will gossip and trash-talk.

- Brian

Pom Camp '25, feat. Abby and the MHS Varsity Pom Squad

What's up, Pom fans.

I included the itinerary for each day of the Camp for you.

Abby once again wanted to go to Pom Camp this summer, which seems to fall the week after the Fourth of July every year, over at local Northwood University. It's about the closest thing to a 'summer camp' she does, so we grudgingly pulled out the $600 admission cost and basically set it on fire.

Pom is seriously the most expensive sport in school. Soooo glad Abby went with that when she could be playing volleyball or running track.

Anyway.

Unlike last year, her and Ella wouldn't be sharing a dorm room this year since Ella didn't make the Midland's varsity team during tryouts a few months back (though she should have, Ella's up there with the best from their grade - it was complete bullshit, but at least they'll be on the same team again their Junior Year.) With her BFF no longer an option, Abby roomed with another friend of hers (who also made Varsity), Nica, in that DuBois Hall that all the teams from varying schools cram into.

Alayna, Sharon, and I help the girls move into their dorm room on Day 1. 

The camp followed the same schedule as last year: practice and team-building throughout the day, then an evening 'evaluation' where you perform the routine you learned that day (each day at camp you learn a new routine) for a panel of judges and all the family and friends that show up, then you go back to your dorms to go to sleep. They're long, demanding days and the girls definitely wear themselves out - when Abby came home from camp she crashed immediately and slept for almost half a day (not surprisingly.)

Anyway, the captions in this post are gonna be short and sweet 'cause I was only present during the Evening Evaluation performances (that being the only part of the camp that's open to the public) - I have no idea what the rest of the camp entailed, I'm just sharing pics and video I took off Abby's phone and the MHS Varsity Instagram account.

So yeah - here's Pom Camp '25, folks. Enjoy. . .

We had to have Abby at Northwood by like 7:30am in order to get her settled in the dorms before practice started on Day 1. That was loads of fun.

The Cannonball, being a helpful sister. These dorm rooms are tiny and outdated - far crappier than the ones Kris and I had at Western Michigan, that's for damn sure.

Roommates Abby and Nica

Team pic of MHS Varsity Pom on the morning of Day 1.

They have camp staff - older girls who have graduated pom and either were pommers themselves in high school, are pom coaches at other schools, or are currently pommers at a collegiate level - teach the teams a new routine every day that they then have to turn around and perform at the evening evaluation. Pretty intense.

Practicing.

Huddling up for another team chant (team-building is a big component of these camps, too.)

Another team pic in the afternoon or evening (I guess.)

The Varsity sophomores - Nica, Abby, and Brooklyn.

MHS Varsity's performance during Day 1's Evening's Evaluations, which - as stated before - was open to family and friends. 

Day 2 Itinerary

Getting around in the morning of Day 2

Walking from the dorms to the athletic complex.

Abby with Nica and Brooklyn at practice that day (every day has a different 'theme,' and they get different shirts for each day.)

A team pic for Day 2 in their 'Fall in love with Pom' shirts.

Day 2's Evening Evaluation performance

Day 3 Itinerary

They must have had two shirts for Day 3, 'cause in these practice pics - which I'm sure are out of order (they're from Instagram and SnapChat, so there's no time-stamp on 'em) - they're wearing two different styles of shirt. Who knows.

Another bathroom selfie with Nica and Brooklyn.

Day 3 Team Pic

Brooklyn and Abby

More practice.

Kick Line practice.

Performing at the Day 3 Evening Evaluations.

I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the girls next to their decorated dorm room door (based on the movie Tangled) on Day 1, so I made sure to do so when I helped move Abby out of her room on the morning of Day 4 (they had to be completely moved out of their dorm before reporting to the gym for the Final Evaluations.) 

Kick Line on point with this crew.

Day 4's Final Evaluation performance - the last one of this year's Pom Camp.

After all the teams performed their original routine again (from Day 1) they announced this year's All-Star Pom Team. Girls had the opportunity to try out for this elite (and expensive) pom team, comprised of students from all over the state. This All-Star Team marches in the Detroit Thanksgiving Parade, travels to other countries, Disney World, the Capitol, etc. - it's a big deal. Abby decided 'what the hell' and tried out on a whim.

. . . . aaaaaand she made All-Star Pom Team. Kris and I were super proud of her, but also a little apprehensive 'cause this one's gonna be REALLY expensive. Kris is gonna have to start hookin' on the side or something.

MHS Varsity Pom

Per the usual, after performances, awards, and announcing the All-Star Pom Team, girls milled about the gymnasium and took pictures with their friends and families. . . all the while parents patiently stood by, waiting for their kids to wrap up.

Abby and the team's Staff Sister (the staff member who helps the coaches train the team in the various routines throughout the week.) I don't know this chick's name.

Hugs.

And one with this dork.

Posing with one of her coaches (again, don't know her name.)

So there you go, folks - Abby kicked ass at this year's Pom Camp, once again. And she made All-Stars. This kid's a f***ing rock star.

- Brian