Incline cheer team — including Spanish exchange student — headed to NYC

Mireia Seuba is on a speed run of uniquely American experiences.

The Spanish teen arrived in the U.S. just a few months ago as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, and is experiencing American high school life at Incline High School in Incline Village.

She’s also joined the school’s cheerleading team, and she’s about to spend the Thanksgiving holiday in New York City … because she and her teammates will be marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Incline’s team will join cheerleaders from across the country to form Spirit of America Cheer, a team of teenagers that has performed in the parade since 1989.

This year’s parade lineup, the 99th edition, also will feature 32 balloons, three balloon vehicles, 27 floats, four specialty units, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands, performance groups and musical stars, “all welcoming Santa Claus and the holiday season,” according to Macy’s.

Why cheerleading? American movies, mainly

Despite making inroads in Europe and Asia, cheerleading is still a particularly American sport, and part of the reason that Seuba chose to come to the U.S.

She’s dreamed of the opportunity for the past five years.

“I first heard about it because of (American) movies” like 2006’s “High School Musical,” Seuba said.

“A friend of my sister did an exchange here as well in the United States,” she said. “She wanted to become a cheerleader, but she couldn’t. She told me everything about it, and it seemed cool.”

In Spain, youth athletics programs aren’t tied to public schools, and cheerleading isn’t a significant part of Spanish sports culture. But Seuba’s background in dance — contemporary and ballet — set her up for success with Incline.

“We let her use a week of practices for her tryouts,” said Sara Coombs, school counselor and cheer coach at Incline. “She picks things up very quickly, and we were happy to have her join us.”

Seuba said she’s still amazed that she was able to make the team.

“They’re so good at it,” Seuba said of her teammates. “I thought I couldn’t pick it up at first, but I guess I did.”

The cheerleading part, she understood. And she was familiar with the American holiday of Thanksgiving.

The parade, on the other hand, was an entirely new concept for Seuba.

‘Do you want to go to New York?’

Cheer captain Alynne Chavez, a senior and a four-year member of the team, pushed for the team to apply to be a part of the parade earlier this year.

“She actually choreographed a dance,” Coombs said of Chavez. “We taught it to the girls and they cleaned it up and we videotaped it.

“Within the week, (Spirit of America) got back to us and said, ‘Yes, we’d like you guys to register.’ As they say, the rest is history.”

Once Seuba joined the team, they got her up to speed on the routine, and also what the parade was all about.

“They asked me, ‘Do you want to go to New York?’ They showed me a bunch of videos, and I thought, ‘I can’t believe this is happening,'” Seuba said.

“It’s a little crazy. And then I realized how important it is for Americans and it’s just awesome.”

The Incline team also will visit the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Memorial. They’ll see the Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall and the Broadway musical “Moulin Rouge” while in New York.

Rotary program creating ‘global citizens’

Cheerleading isn’t the only reason Seuba came to the United States. She plans to pursue translation and work in international relations.

That’s the mission of Rotary Youth Exchange: to help young people become “global citizens.” High school students have the opportunity to spend a year studying in one of more than 100 countries, meeting people and experiencing a wider variety of customs.

Students are chosen based on academics, community involvement and willingness to develop diplomatic skills as part of Rotary’s goal to bring the world closer together.

Seuba says her experience in America is already having an impact.

“I’m more like an extrovert (here),” she said. “Back home, I’m really an introvert. And here, I talk to people.”

Seuba is living with her first home family. Each member of the exchange program lives with a total of three families during their stay.

The first thing they showed her? Lake Tahoe, of course. Seuba, who lives near Barcelona, is an avid skier and is ready to hit the slopes this winter.

For now, she’s enjoying the American high school experience.

“You have all these school dances and spirit weeks and all that. In Spain, we don’t do these things,” she said.

Which experience does she prefer, though?

“American high school,” she told the RGJ.

How to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Nevada

The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air in NBC stations starting Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. Pacific. Here’s where you can watch in Nevada:

• Reno and northwestern Nevada: KRNV News 4
• Las Vegas and southern Nevada: KSNV News 3
• Elko and northeastern Nevada: KSL 5

More about Rotary Youth Exchange

To learn more about Rotary Youth Exchange — as either a prospective student or host family — visit the website of Rotary Youth Exchange District 5190, California-Nevada at rye5190.org.

USA TODAY’s Saman Shafiq contributed to this article.