SLHS Cheerleaders Attend Overton Camp
Klein & Thayer Make All-American Team
by Dana Epley
July 14, 2011
OvSilver Lake cheerleaders Traci Klein, Jenna Thayer, Anna Aguirre, Cheyene O'Flannagan, Nadine Lovejoy, and Kailey Conway traveled to Overton Cheer Camp on July 5th and 6th, 2011. They were among the 13 squads present for the camp, where a total of 109 cheerleaders worked on cheers, sidelines, extreme routines, jumps, evaluations and team bonding.
Some of the highlights of the camp were:
- The Jump Off competition (where the point was to show your best jump) and it was won for the second straight year by Alma Cardinal cheerleader Stephanie Tripe.
- The national campaign "America Needs Cheerleaders."
- UCA created a new program "Pin it Forward" to promote all of the values developed through cheerleading, such as leadership, spirit, commitment, kindness and motivation.
- UCA instructors passed out two Superior Gold ribbons to six cheerleaders who they felt possessed the skills on day one of camp. Traci Klein of Silver Lake was one of the six chosen. On day two, the cheerleaders chosen from day one were asked to pass one on to another cheerleader from a different school possessing those traits. Traci passed hers on to Renee Becker of Logan, Kansas. At the end of camp, all of the cheerleaders who received a ribbon were recognized.
- Silver Lake participated in the optional Home Fight Song Evaluation and Home Pom Routine. UCA looks for crowd appeal, crowd-oriented movements and emphasis on practicality. Silver Lake received a Superior trophy for the Home Fight Song. They received first place for this and a third place trophy for Home Pom.
- Traci and Jenna tried out for a coveted spot on the All-American Cheer squad. It is one of the highest awards a cheerleader can earn in cheerleading. Only 10 percent of cheerleaders may be chosen. UCA looks at skills, which range from jumps, motions, dance, leadership and the qualities of an all around great cheerleader. They must perform the extreme routine, camp cheer, and show their best jump. This was another first for Silver Lake as both girls were chosen to be All-Americans. They received a medallion, patch, certificate, and the chance to participate in the Varsity Cheerleader Parade in London.
- The squad also participated in camp champs and received a Superior rating.
What a way for the squad to start off Cleo Mousel's 20th year of being the cheerleading sponsor at Silver Lake! Congratulations to the squad and to Mrs. Mousel on the accomplishments earned at this camp!
