The Stevens Point Area Senior High School Competition Stunt Cheerleaders were invited to participate in the pre-game show at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., after winning several awards at the UCA Cheer Camp at Camp Birch Knoll in Phelps Aug. 19-22.
The SPASH cheerleaders earned the Camp Leadership Award, a first for SPASH, and the highest award given out at UCA cheer camp.
The SPASH team attended cheer, stunt and dance classes during the day and was evaluated on material learned in the evenings.
The first night the squad competed in the home dance routine and won first place.
The second night the cheerleaders were evaluated in the cheer division and earned an excellent ribbon for their performance.
The third night they were evaluated on a combination cheer/dance routine called the "extreme routine," basically a mini-competition routine, and earned an excellent ribbon as well.
For their final day evaluations they earned superior ribbons in the following areas: stunting, cheer, dance, extreme routine and chants.
In addition to those awards the team placed third in both the Camp Championship for Cheer and Extreme Routine.
Shantelle Essley and Jennie Canfield were selected to be UCA Allstars, a prestigious individual award. Less then 5 percent of those trying out for allstars are selected. This is the second year Essley has earned the honor, while Canfield receives the honor as a sophomore, which is a rarity.
While at camp, the cheerleaders were able to go boating, swimming and tubing.
The team plans on competing at the following events: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titan Invite in November; Raider Classic in Wisconsin Rapids in December; State Regionals in Rapids in January, State at Rapids in February and the Badger Cheerleading Championships in Madision in late February.
Members of the 2001-2002 SPASH Competition Stunt Cheer Team include seniors Shantelle Essley, Mary Beth Walczak and Robin Yetka; junior Claire Golla; and sophomores Jennie Canfield, Lindsay Chojnacki, Stephanie Cychosz, Hollie Derezinski, Krystal Janowski, Brittney Kulich, Brittany Mattmiller and Niki Walters. The team is coached by Branka Dudas.