The Camden Central High School cheerleaders attended the four-day Universal Cheerleading Association (UCS) camp on the campus of UT Martin from July 16-19. On the final day, the CHS squad ended camp by placing first in the Small Varsity Rally Routine, first in the Small Varsity Cheer, and coming in as runner-up out of all divisions for Overall Camp Champions.
Camp began with an opening pep rally, which was planned and carried out by UCA staff. For the remaining days, each team had the opportunity to learn the latest in stunts, dances, choreography, and crowd effective cheers and sidelines. Teams were evaluated each night on skills that had been taught during the day. The CHS cheerleaders succeeded in earning a spirit stick each day and a superior ribbon in every evaluation!
On the second night of camp, UCA held a Jump Off competition. Emma Comuzie, Lexi Harris, and Amelia Myrick represented CHS. On the third day, UCA hosted a circus rally with all squads participating in different activities and dressing up as circus performers.
Members of the CHS squad participated in all the activities and had a great time bonding with their teammates as well as the other squads.
UCS has a program called “Pin it Forward,” part of their national campaign “America Needs Cheerleaders”. This program promotes the values developed through cheerleading, such as leadership, spirit, commitment, kindness, and motivation. As part of Pin it Forward, UCA instructors passed out cards with two pins to cheerleaders who they thought showed those skills.
When cheerleaders got a card, they then “pinned it forward” by giving their extra pins to a cheerleader from a different school. Kay Pierce received a pin from UCA staff, and Laiken Medlin and Myrick each were given pins from girls on other squads. All of the cheerleaders who received pins were recognized.
Five members of CHS team received All American awards and medallions, including Mia Arnold, Haley Douglas, Drew Love, Myrick, and Pierce. These students competed against students from all the other squads, and have been invited to participate and perform in the 2020 Varsity Spirit Parade Tour in London, England, beginning this December.
This year the cheerleaders teamed with Varsity Spirit, which partners with St. Jude in support of finding cures for cancer and other catastrophic illnesses. Varsity Spirit asked each participant to send two letters to their friends and family asking for donations to St. Jude. Cheerleaders across the state already have raised millions for St. Jude, and the CHS girls were glad to participate. To contribute, visit varsity.com/stjude for more information.
Overall, the camp experience proved to be a fun and rewarding time for the CHS team. It was a great time for the team to get to know each other, learn how to work with one another, and get the year started off in the right direction.
The CHS team is looking forward to a great 2019-20 season, which will begin with the annual “Meet the Lions” pep rally on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 6 p.m. at the CHS gym. The cheerleaders also will hold their annual cheer clinic on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Briarwood School gym from 9 a.m.-noon.
