THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 7, 1996 TAG: 9604050211
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEWEL BOND
STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
IT WASN'T the sun or anticipation of meeting Mickey Mouse that had Manteo's competition cheerleaders pumped up as they headed into Orlando last weekend.
They were there to compete in the national cheerleading championship. And spirits were high.
``We were really excited,'' team captain Elizabeth Winstead said last week. ``The competition we were up against and the atmosphere gave an adrenaline rush, but it was an extreme adrenaline rush when we performed.''
Months of work and five earlier competitions prepared the girls so well, Winstead said, that they weren't even thinking about the routine. ``We have practiced so much,'' she said, ``we just do it.''
In the land of sun and fun, in the last competition of the year, the Manteo team's 2 1/2-minute routine placed 14th out of 27 in their division - not quite making the coveted top 10 spot that would allow them to compete in the finals.
The competition was so good, Winstead said, that ``we were thrilled to have placed so high against them.''
The team's consolation prize was an extra day of fun - and a tour of Walt Disney World and the Epcot Center.
``Some of the girls went back to catch the cute stunts being performed by other competitors,'' Winstead said.
Coach Algie Campbell had wished for a later starting time for his team to compete in the tournament. But out of 205 squads, they drew third - placing them in an early Friday morning slot. They would have to be ready by 5 a.m.
``When you perform that early, there are less people there, so there is less enthusiasm - not by our team, but the audience,'' Campbell said. ``And the teams are motivated by the audience's acceptance and appreciation of their talent.''
Campbell said the first six to eight teams were magnificent and had obviously been working on their routines longer than the Manteo squad.
``Most of the teams began competing in August,'' he said. ``We had our first competition in December. . . . It's easy to be proud of a team that places 14th against such strong competition.''
Campbell rightfully talks about his cheerleaders with pride.
``It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of practice hours to be a competitive cheerleader,'' Campbell said. ``The routines are difficult, and working together as a team is a must.''
The teamwork begins early in the season, during summer camp. With guidance from camp sponsors, the squad learns new cheers, dances and stunts. The dependence on someone else for safety brings valued friendships and makes it easy, and necessary, to function as a team.
Summer camp is where the cheerleaders learn if they have what it takes for competitive cheering. If they get top scores during rigorous routines, they earn the right to compete during the season.
``You really have to be in good shape,'' Winstead said. ``We try to keep a positive attitude.'' But just as important, cheerleaders have to be ``motivated and always smile.''
These qualities came easy to the Manteo team, which scored enough points to compete in the Orlando championships during the summer. But to get there, they needed money.
In December, they began raising more than $12,000 to be able to compete in area, regional, state and national championships.
The team solicited sponsorship from individuals and businesses. With 24 sponsors in the $100 Club, 41 in the $50 Club and more than 60 sponsors contributing $25 or less, the year's participation was possible.
A brochure was printed listing the sponsors, the cheerleaders and the dates for the competitive events.
In the first competition in December, the team finished in fifth place out of 10.
They followed up with the State Cheerleading Champanionships in Raleigh in January, placing fifth out of 14.
February and March brought first-place wins in two separate competitions. And the team won the Northeastern Athletic Conference for the third year in a row.
``Next year, maybe we'll start our competitions earlier, maybe August,'' Campbell said. ILLUSTRATION: Manteo High School's competitive cheerleading team, under the
auspices of coach Algie Campbell, competed in Florida last weekend.
THE SQUAD
These are the Manteo High School cheerleaders who competed in
Florida:
Erica Barnes, junior
Stephanie Berger, sophomore
Kim Bouldin, senior
Jessica Conner, junior
Alyson Davenport, senior
Bridgett Davenport, junior
Mary Dyal, junior
Jessica Jolly, sophomore
Natalie Lafferty, sophomore
Cary Sue Moore, freshman
Nichol Overton, junior
Stacey Pearce, freshman
Jean Reed, senior
Kristin Romanczyk, sophomore
Briana Wine, sophomore
Renee Waddington, junior
Lacie Walke, junior
Elizabeth Winstead, senior
by CNB