Sports
New Tampa Tigers’ Pee Wee Cheerleading Squad Headed to Nationals
Competition begins in Orlando Dec. 5, but a fund-raiser/send-off is being held tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 3).
New Tampa Tigers’ Pee Wee Cheerleading has qualified for it's first-ever appearance at the National Pop Warner Cheer & Dance Competition at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. The competition starts Monday and runs all week long. The Tigers will perform Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Head Coach Stacey Thomas, along with Krista Davidson and Dawn James, have led the team to numerous competitions all season long, and it would appear much of the hard work has paid off.
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"This is a great opportunity for the girls, regardless of how they do," said Thomas. "However, I think they are going to do very well."
Thomas is a former University of Indiana cheerleader who also worked with the National Cheerleaders Association for five years. She brought her experience and creativity to New Tampa in 2001 and has been head coach for the last five years as well as cheerleading coordinator for the last two.
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The squad advanced this past weekend during the Southeast Pop Warner Regional Championship, placing second in the Pee Wee Medium/Intermediate Division. The top two squads from each division advanced.
The fete is not just a first for cheerleading; it is a first in the history of all New Tampa Pop Warner youth football and cheerleading, which includes the New Tampa Tigers, New Tampa Wildcats, former New Tampa Patriots and former New Tampa Sharks.
"It's great for Pop Warner in general," said Thomas.
The cheerleading squad is made up of 23 girls, aged 10-12 years.
Other highlights of the year for the squad:
- First Place - Pop Warner FYD Cheer Jam (Pee Wee Medium/Intermediate) – October 23, 2011
- First Place - Cheer Champion Express, Inc (Large Jr Prep Intermediate) – November 6, 2011
- Grand Champion - Cheer Champion Express, Inc (Jr Prep Division) – November 6, 2011
- Second Place - Southeast Pop Warner Regional Championship (Pee Wee Medium/ Intermediate) – November 27, 2011
A Fund-Raiser/Neighborhood Send-Off
Pop Warner New Tampa Tigers Cheerleading is having a send-off/fund-raiser for the girls tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 3) at and . Proceeds from sales at both places will benefit the girls. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs until about 7:30 p.m.