Two cheerleading squads win honors

WESLEY CHAPEL - Two county cheerleadering teams earned national recognition last month.

Weightman Middle School took first in the junior high division of the All-American Nationals in Orlando.

The Pasco Elite All-Stars, a group primarily of middle school and high school girls from west Pasco and northern Pinellas counties, won a division title in the American Open at the University of South Florida.

Weightman's seventh- and eighth-graders faced some of the nation's top ninth-grade teams.

"They were more experienced where some of our girls had only been cheering for a year," Weightman coach Sharon Morris said.

Grades play a prominent role in team selection, Morris said. Eight walkons lacking experience were chosen for their grades and drive.

"The dedication they have in the classroom is bound to carry over," Morris said. "That's where the foundation of the team starts."

April Britt, former Gulf High cheerleading coach and cheerleading coordinator for the Pasco Police Athletic League, has taken her team to nine competitions in its three seasons.

At the Open, her team won its first national title.

"The most exciting thing for us as coaches was when our parents came down from the stands and everybody was crying," Britt said.

The all-stars performed a 21/2-minute routine that included stunts, tumbles and dancing.

Britt plans to expand the all-star program, which trains at Suncoast Gymnastics Academy in New Port Richey.

Tryouts for boys and girls of all ages will take place Friday through Sunday. For information, call assistant director Kathe Cook at (727) 848-7085.

Rosters were:

Weightman Middle - Jena Abare, Jennifer Alkire, Audrina Bigos, Chelsea Boyett, Samantha Chrosniak, Laura Davis, Stephanie Davis, Katie Diaz, Leah Dilmone, Lauryn Evans, Kelsey Flood, Janessa Gunn, Rachel Hutinger, Santana Iglesias, Shelby Kaplan, Jenna Kelly, Kristina Kramer, Brittany Lawler, Courtney Lemay, Karley Maskavich, Brandi McKelvey, Brittany Monbarren, Kari Reed, Karen Richardson, Jalyn Rivera, Erin Rossman, Nicole Salce, Jessica Scaife, Alex Simmonds, Lauren Tucker and Jaclin Young.

Pasco Elite All-Stars - Elena Convery, Kristyna Delgado, Carrie Facemire, Cassidy Facemire, Sylvia Fredricks, Dana Graham, Rachel Graham, Ashley Grant, Adrianna Jardell, Autumn Lang, Regina Levy, Michelle Lipp, Angela Lyow, Jennifer Macyowsky, Kristin Matthewson, Jackie McGrady, Jessica Orshal, Megan Shade, Amber Smith and April Swetland.

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