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The Story:
The
Charlestown High School Football Cheer Squad
has been making a list and checking it twice since practice started back in
April of this year. First, re-group a collection of young ladies with
over 120 combined years of school and competitive cheerleading experience;
CHECK. Second, sweep top honors at the three day National Cheerleader
Association (NCA) Regional Cheer Champ competition-qualifying for a 2009
High School National Championships berth; CHECK. Next, sprinkle in
five 2009 High School NCA All-American Cheerleader honorees; CHECK.
Then, cheer the Charlestown Pirate Football team to a third consecutive
conference championship; CHECK, and finally, work three additional months at
season's end to create National Championship worthy cheer routines for
competition at the highest level a high school squad can qualify; CHECK!
December 28th and 29th, the Charlestown High School Football Cheer Squad
will compete for a 2009 High School Cheerleading Championship in Dallas,
Texas; not only representing themselves and Charlestown High School, but
also the entire community of Charlestown on a national stage
(http://www.nca.varsity.com/championshiplisting.aspx
). The
squad will compete against twenty-two other high school cheer squads, in
three categories, from all over the United States; from Texas to Oklahoma,
New Mexico to Hawaii, and Arkansas to Louisiana (
http://www.nca.varsity.com/pdfs/hsn_po.pdf
). Cheer categories
including High School Sideline Cheer, High School Timeout Dance, and the
overall at the Medium Advanced High School level.
The Charlestown High School Football Cheer Squad, competing for a
National Championship in Dallas, includes three Senior Captains - Shelby
Keeling, Katelyn Maymon, and Katie McClaine; seven Juniors -
Libby Branham, Kirstyn Davis, Kelsie Houchens, Chelsey Ledbetter, Jaclyn
Logan, Makenzie Schafer, and Raquel Wolter; three Sophomores -
Lauren Napier, Emma Wesp, and Jacy Woods; and one Freshman,
Shelby Coyne. The is squad is coached by Head Coach Melissa
Stewart and Assistant Coach Ariel LaFountain, for more about the squad, log
on to
http://www2.gcs.k12.in.us/chs/Cheerleading
.
The Charlestown community has been very supportive of the cheer squad's
endeavors to compete in Dallas at the end of this month, including the over
$8,000 in successful fund raising to make the trip financially possible.
During final preparations this week, Charlestown High School Principal Keith
Hedges commented, "I can't begin to express the pride and excitement I
feel for Charlestown High School and our community. Good luck
cheerleaders!! Bring home the National title and show the rest of the
country what PIRATE PRIDE is all about!!" The Cheer Squad also
received words of support and luck from Charlestown Mayor Bob Hall, "I
can't tell you how proud we are of Charlestown's Cheerleading team.
They are truly taking us to a new level of excellence in the community.
This will be a memory that will last a lifetime for each of them and I am
thrilled that they are going to have this opportunity. God Bless you
for raising the bar. Take the NATIONALS."
As eluded to before, this group of young ladies have cheered together the
majority of their school aged years. They have cheered with Pirate
Nation at the High School level, the Middle School levels, and Elementary
levels. They have cheered together on numerous local all-star
competitive squads outside of school, including Tumbletown, Twist-N-Turns,
SIGS, Pro Cheer Extreme, Indiana Extreme, and Gym Tyme. Several even
made up the very first Jonathan Jennings competitive cheer squad at the
beginning of this decade. When asked to comment on this group of young
ladies now competing for a National title, Jonathan Jennings Elementary
Cheer Coaches Chelli Lancaster and Karen Wesely commented: "Proud
does not begin to describe the feeling we have toward the CHS Football Cheer
Squad. Several of the ladies competing at Nationals were once JJ
(Jonathan Jennings Elementary) Pirate Cheerleaders on our very first
competitive squad or the years following. The mention of their names
brings back wonderful memories of their talents and hard work. We have
never been more excited or proud to be a part of the Charlestown
cheerleading program. We give our love and support to the entire squad
and we hope those former JJ Pirates know how much we love them and continue
to be proud of them!"
The Charlestown High School Pirate Football Cheer Squad would like to extend
sincere special appreciation to the following people and entities for their
support, cooperation and backing; making it possible to compete for a
National title: Charlestown High School Principal Keith Hedges as well
as the entire CHS faculty and staff; Charlestown Head Football Coach Jason
Hawkins and the entire Pirate Football Program; Greater Clark County Schools
Superintendent Dr. Stephen Daeschner, Assistant Superintendent Travis Haire,
Chief Financial Officer Frank Collesano, and the GCCS School Board; Bud
McQuillen and the Charlestown Pirate Pride Booster Club; Rhonda Davidson and
the City of Charlestown Parks and Recreation Department.
Squad Thoughts about Competing for a National Championship:
"I'm nervous and scared not only for me but the whole team. At the
same time I'm proud of everyone and wish us the best of luck." -
Senior Co-Captain Shelby Keeling.
"In Dallas we will leave everything on the competition mat, and we will come
home with our heads held high, because we competed for a National
Championship. The state level competitors will remember our name!" -
Senior Co-Captain Katelyn Maymon.
"The best feeling in the world is the feeling of motivation, the minute you
step on the floor, underneath the bright lights and all your nerves turn to
pure adrenalin. In your mind, everything goes silent and your think 'we can
do it'" -
Senior Co-Captain Katie McClaine.
"This will probably be one of the most thrilling experiences of my life.
I've been to nationals and big competitions before, but NOTHING like this" -
Junior Libby Branham.
"I'm a little nervous, but I'm excited. I've never been to Dallas, or
competed for a National Championship. I'm glad I get to experience
this." -
Junior Kirstyn Davis.
"I'm overly excited about going to Dallas. WE are going to give
everything we have on the competition floor. Win or lose I'm going to
be proud of my team. We may be nervous, but our team spirit is going
to carry us through." -
Junior Kelsie Houchens.
"I feel that this is a once in a life time event; and I'm happy to share it
with the best squad, and the most wonderful coach...I love you guys!" -
Junior Chelsey Ledbetter.
"It's make or break, I know we can do it." -
Junior Jaclyn Logan.
"I am not going to lie, I am EXTREMELY nervous about going to Dallas, but
I
believe in our squad. our cheer team is a family. We work hard
and push each other to our greatest potentials. We have worked and
worked, and now it's time, time to go to Dallas and prove to everyone
that the Charlestown High School Cheer Squad, is something: something
great!" -
Junior Makenzie Schafer.
"Being able to participate in a cheer competition that brings the best in
the nation forward, has enlightened the team as to how talented we are.
It has helped us realize how much we can accomplish if you're willing to give
it your all." -
Junior Raquel Wolter.
"It feels great, because how many teams around here go to Nationals,
especially a school team." -
Sophomore Lauren Napier.
"Competing for a National Championship with my high school squad is a dream
come true. Being able to experience this opportunity with all my
"girls" that I love is honoring." -
Sophomore Emma Wesp.
"Competing for a National Championship with my girls is such a great
opportunity an experience. I couldn't picture doing this with any
other team but my amazing high school squad." -
Sophomore Jacy Woods.
"It's exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. But I know we're
ready." -
Freshman, Shelby Coyne.
"I am honored to be a part of the football cheerleading program at
Charlestown High School. The girls this year are the hardest working,
most dedicated and determined group of girls I have ever been involved with.
I am confident that we will make Charlestown High School and the community
proud in Dallas. When we leave there, people across the United States
are going to know who Charlestown is!" -
Head coach Melissa Stewart.
If I could tell the world one thing about my team and what they mean to
me....
"They're like my second family and I love them. We all stick together
and believe in one another." -
Senior Co-Captain Shelby Keeling.
"When I have bad days at school, I pray for cheer practice to arrive
quicker, because I need the support from my cheerleading family. We
are sisters before we are teammates." -
Senior Co-Captain Katelyn Maymon.
"My team is my family. My best friends, my sisters, my motivators and
most importantly my teammates." -
Senior Co-Captain Katie McClaine.
"They are my girls and like family to me. We tell each other secrets
before practices while we stretch. We are really close. There is never
a dull moment on our squad, that's for sure." -
Junior Libby Branham.
"Even though we have drama sometimes, we always seem to get through it.
All the girls mean a lot to me." -
Junior Kirstyn Davis.
"The team is a sisterhood to me. When I'm down I turn to my team and
they help me through everything. Our teammates pick each other's
spirits up and don't leave our teammates down on themselves." -
Junior Kelsie Houchens.
"No matter what the world throws at us, we get through it all." -
Junior Chelsey Ledbetter.
"This team is my life, they are my support system. Without them we
wouldn't be going to Dallas. Without them we couldn't have made this
amazing routine. These girls are my sisters, my second family, and I
love them to death." -
Junior Jaclyn Logan.
"This squad is my second family. I love them all like sisters.
We are all dedicated to this squad, so that means we are all dedicated to
each other. We've been through a lot together, and I personally, have
made friendships that will last a lifetime." -
Junior Makenzie Schafer.
"One thing I could tell the world is that i love each and every one of these
girls, without them I would be a different person." -
Junior Raquel Wolter.
"My team has gotten so close in just one year. We aren't just a team
anymore, more like a family." -
Sophomore Lauren Napier.
"They are not just my team. They are my family." -
Sophomore Emma Wesp.
"They aren't just my team, we are a family that stick's together." -
Sophomore Jacy Woods.
"I'm so proud of how far we've come, and it means a lot to me that the girls
accepted me into the squad." -
Freshman Shelby Coyne.
"I would tell them that I have never been more proud of a group of young
people because of their devotion to the sport of cheerleading, their
teammates, themselves, and me. We are obviously going to Dallas with
the intent of bringing home a National Championship, but a trophy is not our
only tool for measuring success in this endeavor. These girls have
instilled a work ethic that will carry them through many endeavors in life.
They are forming memories together that will last a lifetime. No
single individual makes a team successful; teams become successful through
the collective talents and best efforts of all their members. These
girls all know that and teamwork and team success has been the theme for
this team all along." -
Head Coach Melissa Stewart.
Facts to Ponder....
82% of today's cheerleaders maintain a B or higher average; 86% participate
in a second sport; 82% are accepted into colleges; and 68% hold another
leadership role at their school. To some onlookers, it's about glitz
and glamour; to a cheerleader, these is no substitute for hard work and
preparation. Perseverance, resourcefulness, and dedication will
overcome obstacles and setbacks. There are no closer friendships than
those made through practicing, losing, and winning together as a team.
Small triumphs promote confidence, self-esteem, dedication, and desire,
paving the way for future, larger triumphs.
Sponsors:
Allen's Heating & Air, Anytime Fitness, B & G Weyer, Balmer's Lawn Service,
First Savings Bank, Charlestown Family Dentistry, Charlestown Primary Care,
CHC Enterprises, Cooper Drugs, Dr. Michael Brumit, Dura Mold, Edward Jones -
James Adams, Advisor, Floors & Watt Notts, Inc., Gentle Touch Massage, Green
& Halliburton, Hometown Voyage, L & N Federal Credit Union, Moments
Photography, Mumford Association, Park Street Auto Body, Roto-Rooter,
Sampan, Inc., Sandy's Hair and Such, Scott A. Williams, Southern Indiana
Youth Boosters, State Farm Insurance Agent Dale Robinson, The Concrete Lady,
The Pirate's Cove, Whatawash Car Wash, Yellow Cactus, and Z & Z Enterprises,
Inc.
Just so you know....
The Pirate Football Cheer Squad will be leaving Charlestown High School,
bound for the Dallas Texas Convention Center on Saturday, December 26th at
approximately 6:30 p.m.; all supporters are welcome to wish the ladies off
with good luck. The first day of Nationals, on Monday, December 28th
is scheduled to begin for the Pirates at 11:07 am in the High School
Sideline Cheer category; followed at 12:17 pm with the High School Timeout
Dance category competition. Monday's performances conclude for the
Pirates at approximately 7:24 pm when they wow the country with their routine in the Medium Advanced
High School division. Final round performances and competition for
Tuesday, December 29th will be determined at the end of Monday's competition
according to standings and results. Competition times listed above are
Central Time (Dallas, Texas). The Pirate Football Cheer Squad should
arrive back to Charlestown High School between 10:00 am and noon
Wednesday. Follow the squad's progress during Nationals at
www.CharlestownPiratePride.com.
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