Spartans, Panthers Advance to State Competition
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Sunday, November 4, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Loudoun County shined this past weekend at the Region II cheerleading competition in Charlottesville. Of the top four teams chosen to move on to the state competition, two were from Loudoun.
Broad Run finished as runner-up and Potomac Falls came in third Saturday evening at Monticello High School.
“We are so proud of these girls,” Lonnie Olimpio, mother of Spartan cheerleader Amanda Olimpio, said. “They work so hard. They are amazing.”
The results came as little surprise for the two teams, which already have seen success this year. Broad Run earned the 2006 State AA Runner Up title and this year placed first at the Louisa Spiritfest and the Dulles District meet.
Potomac Falls cheerleaders finished first at the regional competition last year and earned third place at the state competition. This year, the Panthers earned second place at the Dulles District meet.
“I think we did really well, especially coming from not the best first round performance, we really stepped it up,” Panthers junior Julie McIntire said. “We hit everything that we wanted to hit. We're really happy.”
Virginia Short, Broad Run's coach for the past four years, said some of the most difficult moves in the team's performance include full squad running, standing tumbling and kick double baskets. The Spartan cheerleaders said they plan to work hard this week in preparation for the state competition.
Photo Gallery
Region II Cheerleading Competition
The Loudoun County Raiders take the floor for the first round of Saturday's competition. (Sarah Snyder)
The cheerleaders strike a pose during the cheer portion of their routine. (Sarah Snyder)
One squad member turns a full twist as her teammates prepare to catch her. (Sarah Snyder)
The Broad Run Spartans turn a backflip in unison during their performance. (Sarah Snyder)
The Heritage High School cheerleaders show off a heel stretch stunt during their performance. (Sarah Snyder)
Team members from Heritage, Potomac Falls and Broad Run come together for a photo as they await the results of the first round. (Sarah Snyder)
Spartan cheerleaders huddle before their performance in the second round. (Sarah Snyder)
The Spartan cheerleaders wait for their music as Head Coach Virginia Short and the judges look on. (Sarah Snyder)
The Panthers celebrate their second round performance. They will be one of four teams from Region II to compete in the state competition next Saturday. (Sarah Snyder)
The Broad Run cheerleaders pose with their trophy. The Potomac Falls Panthers and the Broad Run Spartans represent two out of four regional teams who will compete in the state competition. (Sarah Snyder)
“We have a couple practices Monday and Tuesday,” Short said. “We're going to practice all week and just go for it on Saturday. We're really excited about the opportunity to go back to state.”
Spartan senior captain Stephanie Mott said her love of cheerleading began early on.
“It was my dream ever since my brother went to Broad Run,” Mott said. “I would always go to the games and watch the cheerleaders.”
Heritage and Loudoun County were among the 12 teams competing for a bid Saturday to the state competition. Even though they didn't earn a bid, the teams placed in several competitions earlier this year.
Loudoun County earned third in the Park View Spirit Fest and fourth in the Dulles District competition. This is the squad's second consecutive year to compete in the regional competition.
The team has several difficult moves in its routine, Head Coach Robin Ellison said, including toe-touch basket tosses -- a pyramid that has four double full twists.
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“I hope the team gains a sense of accomplishment for the great year they are having,” Ellison said.
The Heritage Pride cheerleaders earned third place in the Dulles District competition this year. The team practiced six days a week in preparation for this weekend's competition.
“I think we came out and did the best that we could,” senior cheerleader Emily Stevenson said. “It was awesome. We came out with a bunch of energy and just did it.”
“Everyone wanted it," junior Pride cheerleader Alex DiLuca said. "Everyone put in 110 percent."
The Panthers and the Spartans will compete Saturday at the state championships in Richmond.
“We'll work on our motions, make sure we're sharp, get our voices louder and just have fun -- have a good time,” McIntire said. “I think we're ready."
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I would like to thank Loudoun Extra for all of the cheerleading stories. Alot of people do not think that cheerleading is a sport so they don't mention us in articles so thanks! We work just as hard as other athletes! Once again, thanks I really appreciate your efforts.
Posted by cheer4life (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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