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Cheerleaders take four top awards at national competition
February 3, 2006– Shirley Luna
The Stephen F. Austin State University cheerleaders recently brought home four of the top 10 awards from the Universal Cheerleader's Association National Partner Stunt Championship. Pictured are, front row from left, Misty Brown, sophomore finance major from Waxahacie; Veronica Gomez, senior general business major from Deer Park; Meghan O'Connor, senior social work major from Kennedale; April Weaver, sophomore nursing major from Owasso, Okla.; back row from left, Tim Wegner, freshman kinesiology major from Sun Prairie, Wis.; Jeremy Plemel, junior art major from Aloha, Ore.; Justin Kelley, junior criminal justice major from Channelview; and Douglas Daigle, secondary education graduate student from Lake Charles, La.
The Stephen F. Austin State University cheerleaders have never been shy when it comes to taking their fair share of championships. After all, the squad has been named the national champion cheer team for each of the past three years. Their attitudes were no different at the recent Universal Cheerleader's Association National Partner Stunt Championship, when the team brought home four of the top 10 awards.
Justin Kelley of Channelview and Meghan O'Connor of Kennedale brought home the first-place honor, with the team of Veronica Gomez of Deer Park and Jeremy Plemel of Aloha, Ore., placing fourth. April Weaver of Owasso, Okla., and Douglas Daigle of Lake Charles, La., tied for the sixth-place honor, and Misty Brown of Waxahacie and Tim Wegner of Sun Prairie, Wis., placed 10th. No other university had more than one team in the top 10.
Partners from universities from across the country auditioned by video to compete in the partner stunt competition. According to Brad Patterson, coordinator of SFA spirit programs, just qualifying to compete in the event is an accomplishment.
"The cheerleaders put in an enormous amount of hours to stay at the elite level at which they compete each year," Patterson said. "Between cheering for all home and away football games, men's and women's basketball, volleyball games, and university functions, plus practice five days a week and classes, the demand on each cheerleader's schedule is quite challenging."
Talented students are recruited from around the country to represent SFA and cheer for the Lumberjacks, according to Michael Preston, assistant director of student affairs.
"SFA cheerleading is more than a regional phenomenon," Preston said. "Right now, SFA cheer has more students from out of state than in state. They represent 10 states and four time zones."
The partner stunt competition will be broadcast on ESPN at a later date. More information is available at www.varsity.com.
The SFA cheerleaders will defend their national title in Daytona Beach, Fla., in April. They will showcase their national competition routines at 7 p.m. March 31 in William R. Johnson Coliseum.