Dolores, Dolores County, Cortez cheerleaders head to state event

Dolores, Dolores County, Cortez cheerleaders head to state event

Dec. 7, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

MEMBERS OF THE DOLORES COUNTY High School varsity cheerleaders go through a routine Tuesday afternoon at Dove Creek Elementary School’s Gym. The right pryamid includes April Rocha (top), plus Tia Wood (middle), Joie Nidiffer (left) and Chris Atkins (right). The left pyramid includes Erin Ivie (top), Shandra Johnson (middle), Erin Fury (left), Krystal Neely (right), and Char Atkins (calling in center). They will compete this Saturday at the State Spirit Championships in the Denver Coliseum.

Cheerleaders from Dolores, Dolores County, and Montezuma-Cortez high schools say, "Bring it On."

Referring to the recent hit movie about a cheerleading contest, the spirit squads will attend the State Spirit Competition all day this Saturday, Dec. 9, in the Denver Coliseum. Dolores and Dolores County will compete in the Class 2A competition and MCHS, which has not made an appearance at State in several years, will compete in Class 4A. Mancos is not sending a troop to State. The State competition is sponsored by the Colorado High School Activities Association.

Dolores cheerleaders include Nicole Francisco, Carissa Higgins, Ashley Ramirez, Erin Powell, Sarah Painter, and Casey Barnett. DHS is coached by Patricia Higgins. Dolores County cheerleaders are Tia Wood, April Rocha, Joie Nidiffer, Chris Atkins, Char Atkins, Erin Fury, Erin Ivie, Shandra Johnson, and Krystal Neely. DCHS is coached by Kati Banks and assisted by Tina Coker. MCHS cheerleaders attending the competition include Brooke and Darcy Peterson, Christina Brengle, Audrey Jackson, Sarah Saunders, Alexis Wilkerson, Ashley Oulette, Tiffany Norris, Lisa Lopez, Christina Russell, Sarah McDonald, Savannah Wark, Therese Raica, and Ashley Tate. MCHS is coached by Margaret Trevault.

Dolores County is coming off a first-place showing (small school division) at the National Cheerleading Association Regionals (not sponsored by CHSAA) which was held in Farmington last weekend (Dec. 2). That showing automatically qualifies the girls to go to the NCA Nationals in Ardmore, Okla., in March, 2001. DCHS may or may not go because of finances. She said she also wants to see how well they do at State this weekend.

According to Banks, the current DCHS girls heading to State actually started when they were second and third graders. Banks has been coaching them in gymnastics (floor exercise).

"Cheerleading has become a big-time sport," Banks, who she and Coker were on the team 20 years ago when DCHS won, said. "Believe me, it has come a long way since then. We started these girls doing tumbling, jumping jacks, and hand springs when about eight years ago. It is the high verticle jumping and other gymnastics routines that are needed now days in order to win.

"When we won 20 years ago, we had a national-level coach come in and drill us. Today, we knew what we needed to do and started attending high-level camps. We found out what we needed to do to raise the level here. We finished third last year (they only place the top two teams) at State, getting a 20-point deduction for a questionable arm extension."

Banks reported they sent in a tape of this year’s routine to have it checked out. The judges said their routine was okay. At Denver, each team will perform a 2-minute, 30-second routine which includes a basic cheer, a chant, and a choreographed dance number. DHS, DCHS, and MCHS will compete in the all-girl category in cheer only. Pompon and drill competitions are also being contested.

"To win or at least to place second, you have got to have a solid gymnastics background. You have to incorporate your tumbling, jumps, and lifts into the routine. You have got to be in great physical shape and be able to breathe," she reported.

"We work almost year-round. The girls are off a couple months. We do a lot of step aerobics, jump roping, using exercise tension bands, stretching and lifting weights. To make lifts and catches, you have got to be in good shape," Banks said.