SPIRITED CHEERLEADERS SET FOR TRIP TO JOLLY OLD ENGLAND.Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer Brianne Strauss wasn't shopping for gifts at the mall Sunday like many of her teen-age friends. She was at school, being thrown in the air by her 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. teammates, twisting and turning in arabesques and splits that could disable the less agile. She sweated, chanted, and moved fluidly through her squad's dance routine. Her dedication - she practices three hours a day, six days a week at Canoga Park High School Canoga Park High School is a public school located in Canoga Park in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, USA, within the Los Angeles Unified School District. It is located right across the street from the Topanga Plaza shopping center. - is what earned Strauss and teammates Davey Henderson and Abby Malchow a trip to Great Britain Great Britain, officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, constitutional monarchy (2005 est. pop. 60,441,000), 94,226 sq mi (244,044 sq km), on the British Isles, off W Europe. The country is often referred to simply as Britain. to perform in London's New Year's Day parade The New Year's Day Parade is parade of 10,000 performers through the streets of the West End of London which takes place annually on 1 January. The first year the parade took place was 1987 as the Lord Mayor of Westminster's Big Parade. . The three senior Canoga Park High students are among 1,500 U.S. high school cheerleaders Notable cheerleaders
The three teens and their coach, Carolyn Perky perk·y adj. perk·i·er, perk·i·est 1. Having a buoyant or self-confident air; briskly cheerful. 2. Jaunty; sprightly. perk , leave Thursday for a weeklong stay in London. In addition to the parade, the foursome plans to do some sightseeing - castles, museums and the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace (bŭk`ĭng-əm), residence of British sovereigns from 1837, in Westminster metropolitan borough, London, England, adjacent to St. James's Park. . ``I've wanted to go to London or Paris - that was one of my goals for cheerleading,'' said Henderson, who is captain of Canoga Park High's cheerleading squad, not to mention senior class president and drum major. ``Now that I've accomplished it,'' she added, ``it might inspire me to do cheerleading in college.'' The three Canoga Park girls were selected for the All-Star Squad at the association's regional camp last summer. Henderson groans and rolls her eyes when she talks about the song to which the All-Star Squad will perform - the Village People's ``YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. .'' But she says she's still excited. ``I enjoy the competition because it pays off so much and you learn so many leadership skills,'' said Henderson, 17. ``You have to lead your group through competition which involves nerves and attitude and if you win it's like the best feeling in the world because you put so much effort into it.'' For Strauss, the trip represents the pinnacle of her 10-year cheerleading career. Though cheerleading is just a hobby for some teens, this 17-year-old takes it more seriously. ``Cheerleading is not how everyone would picture it, we're athletic, we work hard and we have some amazing things in our routines,'' Strauss said. ``Competing is my favorite My Favorite is an independent synthpop band from Long Island, New York. They released two CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives. My Favorite broke up on September 14, 2005, when singer Andrea Vaughn left the band. part because it's like a rush,'' Strauss said. ``The adrenaline is flowing and you're relying on the other squad members (and) whoever is flawless wins. I love it.'' Malchow agrees that cheerleading is a lot more than rah-rah-rahing. ``Every day we work out and have to do push-ups, sit-ups and running,'' said Malchow, 17. ``It can be grueling at times, but it's definitely worth it. You don't even think about the work when you're competing and when you hear the first place with your name.'' The girls raised $2,000 each for the trip, that on top of raising $600 each for the upcoming National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Fla. ``They work so hard and sacrifice so much,'' said Perky. ``It's a total pride thing about representing their community.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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