Local cheerleader performs in London parade

Tucumcari junior cheerleader Nevaeh Montoya had a once-in-a-lifetime experience when she performed in the nationally televised London New Year's Day Parade as part of the Varsity Spirit All-Americans cheer group.

Accompanying was her THS coach and chaperone, Jolene Marroquin, who also had performed as a cheerleader on New Year's Day in London more than a decade ago and never thought she'd return to the British Isles.

Montoya, New Mexico's only representative on the Varsity Spirit team, earned her spot during a Universal Cheerleaders Association tryout in November.

Marroquin said Montoya earned the spot because of her knack for learning dance routines.

Montoya agreed with her coach's assessment.

"As a little girl, I always loved to dance. I would always memorize routines very quickly," she said in a phone interview. "I would work hard to get it down and as precise as I could. Throughout the years, I would continue to work hard and try to improve myself."

Montoya was given a videotape to practice for her parade routine. She had only one practice session in London with her Varsity Spirit colleagues. Her performance during practice was strong enough that organizers moved her to the front row.

The London New Year's Day Parade is roughly equivalent to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in terms of popularity, Marroquin said. Like Macy's, the London parade is televised to millions of viewers across Great Britain.

"I was excited, but it also was very nerve-wracking at the same time, thinking about all those people watching," Montoya said. "I think I did really well. I practiced and practiced. I had been practicing my whole life for that moment.

"I've done cheer for as long as I can remember. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something I've been working towards. It was definitely worth it; all that hard work paid off," she added.

The parade route was 2 1/2 miles, where cheerleaders would stop at 10 locations to perform their routines, Marroquin said. The Varsity Spirit squad was required to sprint from spot to spot in near-freezing temperatures.

"We were in the cold for about an hour and 30 minutes," Montoya said. "We all tried to huddle together and stay warm. But once we got going and started performing, we were all sweating by the end."

Her coach was impressed.

"She can dance her butt off, and she has sass," Marroquin said. "She had a great experience. It was freezing, and she went out and crushed it."

Marroquin also performed in London with the cheerleading squad 12 years ago.

"Taking her as a coach was more exciting," she said. "I told her it's an honor to be here. I told her to take it all in, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

"I never thought I'd be back to London," Marroquin added. "Going back was much more mind-blowing."

Before the big day, Montoya and Marroquin took in the sights of London, including seeing a performance of "Wicked" in the West End theater district and checking out the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral and other sites.

Montoya admitted to some "culture shock" while in London.

"Their architecture is very beautiful. It's so different from here. It's mesmerizing," she said.

Montoya said she is considering trying out for the Varsity Spirit Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii during her senior year.

After she graduates from Tucumcari, Montoya said she'd love to keep cheerleading in college. She said her love of the sport wouldn't stop after she earns a degree.

"If I stay in Tucumcari a bit, I would love to coach the high-school team," she said.

Less than a week after her experience abroad, Montoya was beginning to reflect on it.

"It was a really enjoyable experience and eye-opening," she said. "I hope that other girls will be inspired to work hard, keep going and one day, they'll be able to go to London, too."