Nia Perry and Dylan Barron finally will get to experience the thrill of cheering on the Miami Hurricanes in a bowl game. In a few days, the two captains, respectively, of the all-girl and coed cheerleading squads will be in New York City for the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 28.
“I am very excited, especially because I was supposed to cheer in the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl game, but it was canceled due to the pandemic,” said Perry, a senior from Miami studying health sciences. “I’m really grateful we have the opportunity to experience this before I graduate.”
Perry has been perfecting her cheerleading abilities since the age of 11. For the past two weeks, she and her squad have dedicated their time to preparing for the bowl game as the Hurricanes take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
“I’m grateful that our coaches, Cecilia Esteban and Veronica Salazar, have prepared us for these types of games,” said Perry. “I don’t feel nervous, and I am confident in my team.”
The remarkable opportunity to showcase their talent and represent the University on a larger scale is an awe-inspiring moment for Barron, a senior studying public relations.
“To finally get the chance to perform at a bowl game but knowing it’s my last opportunity because I’m a senior is such a bittersweet moment for me,” said Barron.
Next semester, both Perry and Barron are set to graduate. They expressed how much they will miss the camaraderie and whirl of balancing cheer and their classes. Perry expressed her love and passion for the sport.
“I love to cheer, and I don’t think there’s anything else that has drawn me in the way cheering does,” said Perry. Although her college career is coming to an end, she said that she hopes to remain active in the cheer community, possibly as a coach.
To prepare for the upcoming bowl game, both Perry and Barron are considering the unique challenge of performing in Yankee Stadium—a neutral setting. To increase energy and engagement with the crowd, they will lead their squads to incorporate crowd-pleasing elements into the performances.
“I like tumbling, it’s one of my strengths,” said Barron. “So, during touchdowns, I’m looking forward to going into the end zone and do what I do best. Usually, the vibes are high, and Sebastian does the ’Canes spell out—it’s always a thrill.”
“I’m looking forward to coming together as one, keeping the energy up high, and really making a bang out of it,” said Perry.
The Miami Hurricanes take on Rutgers University at 2:15 p.m. on Dec. 28. Watch the game on ESPN.
