Cheerleaders go to national competition

November 12, 2008
Filed under Clubs/Organizations, News

Natalie Phillips
Staff Writer

For the first time since 2005 one of the Lufkin cheer leading squads will be participating in Nationals in Dallas. The Lufkin Junior Varsity cheer leading squad, a group of only 15 girls, was selected to participate in this competition.

“We were selected by the NCA, the National Cheer leading Association, at cheer leading camp this summer to compete in the event,” said sophomore Chelsea Doolan. “I am looking forward to opportunity to be able to participate in Nationals.”

“It’s really nerve racking, knowing that there are going to be so many other teams good teams participating in the competition, but I’m also very excited,” Doolan said.

The girls have been preparing for the event for the past two months, in order to do well at the competition.

“We’re not quite ready yet,” said Coach Andrea Mark, the JV cheer leading coach. “But, we will definitely be prepared by the time competition gets here.”

Sophomore Tomie May said that she feels like the team is preparing for the competition very well.

“We practice everyday during 5th period, and we also practice from 2:20 till 5:30 every Monday and Thursday,” May said. “We have worked very hard, and are getting better with every practice.”

Sophomore Kortney Lovelace also felt that hard work was definitely something required to be able to go to Nationals.

“We have put a lot of hard work into being able to go to the competition, Lovelace ”said. “It requires lots of practices and dedication to be able to place, which we something that we hope to do.”

Despite the long hours of practice, the girls are waiting anxiously for Nationals, when all their hard work will pay off.

“We’re all looking forward to the competition and the opportunity to compete against the other teams,” Lovelace said.

If the girls win, which is something they are striving towards, then they will receive recognition for winning the big event, as well as a trophy.

“There are about 10,000 other teams that are participating in the event,” May said. “That’s why it would be so awesome if we could place.”

There are several categories that the teams will be competing in, as well as many different age groups.

“The girls will be entering the JV and freshmen cheer leading category of the competition,” Coach Mark said. “There are about four categories overall, including dancing categories, but we’re sticking strictly to the cheering.”

Nationals will be taking place December 28 and 29, and the team will be leaving for Dallas on the 27 and returning on the 29.