Cheer’s Monica Aldama is ‘heartbroken’ that Navarro’s season is ending early

Navarro College cheerleading coach Monica Aldama, of Netflix’s hit docuseries Cheer, is ‘heartbroken’ that the National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, has been canceled.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the beloved team’s fearless leader, 49, who has won the prestigious competition 14 times, took to Instagram to reflect on the devastating news.

‘I am heartbroken with the circumstances that the world is currently facing,’ Aldama captioned a heartfelt post to her 590,000 followers on Wednesday. ‘We are in unprecedented times and everyone needs to take precautions for the safety of one another. Because of this pandemic, the Navarro Cheer team’s season has come to an end.’

Sad: Navarro College cheerleading coach Monica Aldama, of Netflix’s hit docuseries Cheer, is ‘heartbroken’ that the National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, has been canceled

The cast: (L-R) LaDarius Marshall, Monica Aldama, Gabi Butler and Jerry Harris attend the Build Series in January

The cast: (L-R) LaDarius Marshall, Monica Aldama, Gabi Butler and Jerry Harris attend the Build Series in January

While she acknowledged Varsity Spirit’s decision to cancel the NCA champion, slated for April, was inevitable, she is saddened by the ‘lost memories and the lost time’ with her ‘beautiful team.’

‘I was not ready to say goodbye so quickly. I was not mentally prepared for the team to turn in uniforms, pack their things and leave town,’ she said, as events other 50 people are being cancelled across the world.

She concluded her emotional post by thanking her team for ‘pouring everything they had into this entire year’ and all their late nights and holidays given up.

Morning talk: Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, JJ Watt, Monica Aldama, Jerry Harris, Gabi Butler and La'Darius Marshall on Today

Morning talk: Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, JJ Watt, Monica Aldama, Jerry Harris, Gabi Butler and La’Darius Marshall on Today

‘They are fighters and have always given me 100%. Their routine was so beautiful and their work ethic was bar none. I have always been able to control the narrative and resort to plan B or C or even Z.’

The feisty coach, who is always straightforward with her team, described the past week as a roller coaster, which she has no control over.

She chose to end the post on a positive note, writing, ‘What I do know is that we will be back better than ever!!!’

On Sunday, Varsity announced they would be cancelling all ‘scheduled events for at least the next eight weeks of the 2020 competition season’ and are considering trying to judge remotely.

With Oprah Winfrey: (L-R) Monica Aldama, Jerry Harris, Gaby Butter, Lexi Brumback, TT Baker and Dillion Brandt during Oprah's 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus Tour on February 15

With Oprah Winfrey: (L-R) Monica Aldama, Jerry Harris, Gaby Butter, Lexi Brumback, TT Baker and Dillion Brandt during Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus Tour on February 15

‘We are actively exploring all options, including rescheduling events, extending the competition season, and hosting virtual competitions, to continue to provide a competition experience for the thousands of athletes who have worked so hard this year to compete,’ the group said in a statement.

Many teammates, who took home the first-place trophy last year, also shared their grief on social media.

‘This isn’t goodbye Navarro 2020 it’s see you later. Daytona you will be missed and greatly appreciated,’ La’Darius Marshall wrote on Instagram Sunday. ‘I love everyone one of my teammates and all the love we shared.’

He added: ‘The end of my cheerleading career has come a bit early. For everyone who supported me all this way I want to say thank you and I love you,” he continued. “I’m heartbroken for my team and coaches. Long live the bright light we all shared together and the countless fullouts we have done to get ready for this competition.’

Group effort: She concluded her emotional post by thanking her team for ‘pouring everything they had into this entire year’ and all their late nights and holidays given up'

Group effort: She concluded her emotional post by thanking her team for ‘pouring everything they had into this entire year’ and all their late nights and holidays given up’

YouTuber and star cheerleader Gabi Butler, who boasts 1.6 million Instagram followers wrote she would ‘miss walking into practice and hugging’ all the other athletes, since it’s her final year on the squad.

After the cancellation announcement over the weekend, teammate Dillon Brandt shared a snap from their last win expressing his gratitude and sorrow.

Among the sad cheerleaders was Shannon Woolsey, who posted a picture in her uniform from an appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show.

‘As im typing this with uncontrollable tears running down my face, i can’t help but think about how bad i just want one more performance with navarro cheer,’ she wrote. ‘The amount of love i have for this program is indescribable. i never could have imagined the season ending like this. thanking this program extremely for shaping me into the person i am today, and for being my home away from home. i am so so grateful for every single experience i got to be a part of in the past 3 years. i would never trade any of it for the world.’

The deferred competition follows a slew of cancellations or postponement of major events including Coachella, SXSW, E3, Stagecoach, the Met Gala, MIPTV and more, as many establishments are limiting travel and recommending staffers work remotely. 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk