Stephen F. Austin State University

About 35 middle- and high-school-age cheerleaders – some from as far away as Hope, Ark. – arrived on campus Friday for three days of cheering, chanting, stunting and dancing under the direction of the national champion Stephen F. Austin State University cheerleaders.

The annual SFA Spirit Camp is designed to help young squads prepare for their upcoming performance year, while raising funds for the university’s own cheerleading programs, according to Trisha O’Connor, head SFA cheerleading coach.

“Our cheerleaders have a lot of knowledge and experience that can benefit these young squads who want to improve their skills and learn new material that they can perform back at their own schools,” she said. “We have planned a lot of solid instruction, as well as special activities like an ice-cream social, to motivate them and just give them a fun, memorable experience here at SFA.”

By early afternoon on Friday, the campers already were hard at work in the Shelton Gymnasium, learning new chants and polishing their movements. Each squad was paired with a “buddy,” an SFA cheerleader who will work individually with the group throughout the camp, which ends Sunday.

“The great thing about SFA’s camp is that the girls get a lot more one-on-one instruction than they can get at some of the bigger camps,” said sponsor Cinda Hudson, who accompanied both the varsity and junior varsity cheerleading squads from Palestine High School. “We also like the fact that we are helping support our SFA cheerleaders, so it benefits SFA and the East Texas community, as well.”

The camp kicked off Friday with a spirited performance by the SFA cheerleaders, which delighted students and sponsors alike.

“They are so awesome,” said Kaitlyn Lum, a cheerleader from Zavalla Junior High. “I’m hoping to learn a lot from them while I’m here so I can just be a better, more well-rounded cheerleader for my school.”

Ali Havard, an eighth-grade cheerleader at Pineywoods Academy in Lufkin, said she, too, was excited to be interacting with and learning from the SFA cheerleaders, who this spring brought home a sixth-straight national championship trophy.

“I was just so excited to get here and meet them, and I’m hoping they can help me get better at my stunts, too” she said. “It’s really cool to be staying in a dorm and just getting to stay at SFA for the whole weekend. It’s going to be great!”

Zavalla Junior High cheerleading sponsor Emily Roebuck said she feels good about bringing her young cheerleaders to SFA because the instructors strongly emphasize safety.

“Safety is a big part of why we are here. We want them to learn the correct way to do these stunts and the correct way to stretch and warm up so that everyone stays safe and has a good time. That’s what cheerleading is all about.”