CHEERLEADERS VIE FOR CROWN.Byline: Holly Edwards Staff Writer ``Go fight, go fight. Boogie down, all right!'' the cheerleaders Notable cheerleaders
By the end of the grueling 2 1/2-minute routine Sunday, the girls were gasping for breath but exuberant, running off the stage cheering and doing high kicks. Within minutes, another squad was on stage trying to outperform them with higher kicks, louder cheers and more free-falling stunts. This was the scene at Magic Mountain as hundreds of junior high cheerleaders from across the state competed in day two of the state cheerleading The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. championship. For the first time in recent memory, Chaminade Middle School in Chatsworth brought home a trophy from the contest, placing seventh out of about 30 teams in its division. ``We wanted this so bad,'' said 12-year-old Jane Becker of Northridge. ``We've been practicing really hard all week and even on Saturdays. We're all still shaking, we just can't believe it.'' For Chaminade student Austin Singer, 14, of Stevenson Ranch Stevenson Ranch, California (in the 91381 ZIP Code) is a Los Angeles County, USA, unincorporated community west of Santa Clarita a few miles south of Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. The Stevenson Ranch fountain was redone in 2007. - among a handful of boys competing in the contest - the dedication cheerleading requires has carried over into all areas of his life. ``Cheerleading has been like a guiding light for me,'' he said. ``It's helped me with my work ethic work ethic n. A set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. work ethic Noun a belief in the moral value of work and in order for the squad to work, we all have to treat each other like brothers and sisters.'' Other cheerleaders said that after months of rigorous practice sessions, it's just fun to get up on stage and show off. ``It's so exciting because all the people are looking at you and everyone's watching you,'' said 13-year-old Michelle Hubbard of Granada Hills. ``It's an adrenaline rush.'' Between performances, clouds of hair spray could be seen rising from the audience as moms put the finishing touches finishing touches finish npl the finishing touches → der letzte Schliff finishing touches npl → ultimi ritocchi mpl on their daughters' perfect masses of ponytailed ringlets ringlets npl → tirabuzones mpl; bucles mpl ringlets npl → anglaises fpl ringlets ring npl . Many of the 1,000 or so parents attending Sunday's event said cheerleading has helped their children build a sense of identity and self- worth. ``I've seen a major change in self-confidence and self-esteem,'' said Lisa Valenzuela of her 13-year-old daughter, Adri, who is on the Sonrise Christian School A Christian School is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization. The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country according to the religious, educational, and political culture. squad in Covina. ``I've seen an amazing change in the whole way she carries herself.'' Chaminade cheerleading coach Joanna Greenspan agreed. ``They come to me all shy, timid and scared, and by the end of the season they're talkative and really willing to work hard at this,'' she said. In Saturday's high school competition, the Hart High cheerleading squad took home three top prizes in the varsity, junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. and freshmen divisions. The squad's adviser, Tammy Martinez, said the cheerleaders practice 3 1/2 hours every day and take gymnastics two nights a week. ``When they come out here and feel like they've done their best, that's their reward,'' she said. The state cheerleading championship was launched 22 years ago by promoter David Mirisch, who was a cheerleader in college. Mirisch said he created the contest to show that cheerleading is a sport and not a frivolous sideshow See Windows SideShow. . ``It's a great form of competition,'' Mirisch said. ``And there are a lot of colleges that are giving scholarships for cheerleading now. A cheerleader really is an athlete.'' CAPTION(S): 6 photos Photo: (1 -- ran in Valley edition only) Danielle Epler, 13, left, and her Chaminade teammates compete Sunday at Magic Mountain. (2 -- ran in SAC and AV edition only; color in Verb 1. color in - add color to; "The child colored the drawings"; "Fall colored the trees"; "colorize black and white film" color, colorise, colorize, colour in, colourise, colourize, colour SAC edition only) Marina Gallegos, 11, and her Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, city (1990 pop. 69,330), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles, in the fertile San Gabriel valley; settled 1870, inc. 1956. Its industries include metal fabrication, printing, and plastics manufacturing. Junior High teammates give it their all in a quest for Verb 1. quest for - go in search of or hunt for; "pursue a hobby" quest after, go after, pursue look for, search, seek - try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of; "The police are searching for clues"; "They are searching for the the state title. (3 -- ran in SAC and AV edition only; color in SAC edition only) Cheerleaders from Santa Ana's Saint Barbara School wait backstage for their turn to vie for the state championships Sunday at Magic Mountain. (4 -- ran in SAC and AV edition only) Saint Barbara School cheerleaders from Santa Ana get ready to warm up for the state championships Sunday. (5 -- 6 -- ran in SAC and AV edition only) Sonrise Christian School cheerleaders form a tower, left, and shout out their spirit, right, at the junior high meet. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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