Odessan’s a Texan
By Roy Waggoner
OA Online
Give me a C-H-E-E-R.
OK, the routines may be a little tougher than that for former Odessan Ariana Garcia who is in her first season with the Houston Texans cheerleading squad. That would be the National Football League’s Houston Texans.
It’s already been an experience Garcia can’t get over.
“Walking out on the field is amazing. You feel the wind out of the tunnel and hear the screaming so quickly,” she said.
Garcia said she didn’t decide to try out until a week before the tryouts in April and ended up staying for two weeks instead because of the multiple steps in the tryout and practice process. To get on the team, she went through interviews and rigorous performances.
In addition, she got to go on Univision’s morning show to dance on the program with a few other people on the squad who can speak Spanish.
“That was one of the most exciting things, national television that my family got to see,” Garcia said.
She said her grandfather was particularly shocked since he didn’t know she was going to be on television when he watched the appearance.
Once she made the team, Garcia had to rush home to take finals at Odessa College and then went back for a team photo shoot, spending a great deal of time in the car before she moved to the city over the summer.
Now a student at the University of Houston, she spends much of her time either practicing for cheerleading or doing appearances. The team is required to do 40 a year, and Garcia said she thinks that is just one of the misconceptions about cheerleaders.
“We have to be a full-time student, mother or worker. We are young people who are more than just cheerleaders. It’s a second job,” she said.
Though Garcia hasn’t had experience cheering before she tried out for the team, she was a dancer both for the Ector Junior High team and the OHS Showgirls for three years before she graduated in 2007.
“I knew I wanted to dance, and I wouldn’t have had the skills I have had I not been a part of the Showgirls. It’s where I got my dancing skills and the ability to push myself to produce more,” she said.
Since moving to Houston, she said it’s been hard being away from family, but the support of family and friends makes the difference.
“I want to thank everybody for supporting me,” she said.Her mother, Martha Garcia, said she took Ariana down to Houston several times, coming herself to a draft party and then to another game recently against the Jets.
She said the OHS grad’s time as a member of the Showgirls really helped her grow.
“She was kind of shy at first but then got confidence to really reach goals,” mom Garcia said.
Mom said was originally against Ariana trying out, but she changed her mind when she saw how looked serious her daughter was about trying out.. Now, she has high hopes for what it could mean for the future.
“It could open doors. Very few get to accomplish this. She can learn and grow from it,” Martha Garcia said.
