Team fundraising for trip to Florida week of Dec. 6
Morgan Hill’s Pop Warner Pee Wee Intermediate Cheer squad is on its way to the National Cheerleading Competition next week after winning a regional title last weekend.
The local cheerleading squad took first place at the Northwest Regional Cheerleading Competition held Saturday, Nov. 25 in Reno, Nv. They beat out six other teams, including the favored West Valley (Los Gatos) squad that had taken first place honors in the previous two competitions. The Pacifica Tiger Sharks took second-place honors.
The Morgan Hill Raiders and the Pacifica Tiger Sharks will now travel to Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. to compete for a national title.
The regional title is the first of its kind in the 20-year history of the Morgan Hill Raiders.
On hand to accept the first place award with Coach Trish Charette were Marina Schlaefli and Alison Steffel. The remaining members of the Raiders squad are: Mikayla Arlia, Evadne Batad, Krista Charette, Kimberly Eckelberger, Jackie Fiscalini, Amanda Garza, Vanessa Guevara, Ashley Herraez, Katelyn Kunze, Jeannae Long, Olivia Mounsey, Brittney Purcell, Lexi Ricketts, Erica Villarreal, and Shanice Washington, along with Stunt Coach Jamie Mounsey and Coach April Etman.
Led by Coach Charette, the squad practiced six hours per week at the YMCA, Britton Middle School and Barrett Elementary School in preparation for the competition. The team took second place in the Peninsula Pop Warner Championships in October, which advanced the squad to the Regional Competition.
Coach Charette assumed responsibility for the cheer squad midway through the 2004 season when the head coach abruptly quit on the squad.
Each girl on the team is now busy trying to raise $1,000 to pay for the trip to Florida to compete at Nationals. The Morgan Hill Raiders are looking for sponsors for all 17 cheerleaders.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution, please contact the Raider Hotline at (408) 776-3044.
The Morgan Hill Raiders are a 501c non-profit organization.
