CMHS Cheer decorated in recent competitions
Everyone looks forward to the long weekend, but a long weekend took on a different meaning to the Costa Mesa High cheerleaders.
The team competed in two different competitions this past weekend.
Competition season is when cheer becomes a sport. The cheerleaders must be flawless to win against other teams. The Mustangs did just that.
On Saturday the Mustangs traveled to Los Angeles and competed against some of the best in the area. Winning Grand Master champions, the team took home almost every award.
The CMHS girls won first place in their division beating out five other teams. They also won first place out of all divisions with the highest score of the day, being victorious over even co-ed and all-star teams.
They also swept the individual stunt group competitions. Natalie Fowler, Lexi Stroman, Emily Strodel and Laura Vaugious took first place, Andrea Ross, McKenzie Soldin, Paige Labare and Rachel Keane took second and Alyssa Dasca, Alyssa Lopez, Allie Ross and Jordan Weir took third.
In the tumbling division, Alexis Dasca took second place and Allie Ross came in third. In the JV tumbling category Lea Mitani earned second place. The JV stunt group consisting of Collette Rhoades, Jordin Perrung, Abby Bonilla and Priscilla Zieglar received second place.
The team also competed in the dance division for the first time and ended up coming in second place in the advanced pom division, losing out by two points to a dance studio, Yucca Valley Heat.
In the individual dance categories the Mustangs proved they were a team to watch, sweeping the turns category – Alyssa Dasca (first), Alyssa Lopez (second) and Jazzy Jaime (third).
Alyssa Dasca also took second place in toe touches and first in leaps. In high kicks, Jordin Perrung placed second and Rachel Keane placed third.
The Mustangs won the title Grand Master champions and a bid to Nationals because of their cumulative points for the day.
Not resting on the laurels of Saturday the team did it once again on Sunday. The team traveled to UC Irvine and competed with over 75 other teams at the Southern California Classic by GSSA. The team not only won the division championship but five seniors were chosen as semifinalists for the West Coast Region Scholarship Team.
Alyssa Dasca, Courtney Hatch, Selena Arreola, Megan Settles and Natalie Fowler were selected from their performances during the competition and now are given the opportunity to win a share of over $10,000 toward college.
CMHS has had three members of its cheer team awarded scholarships – in 2009 Allie Krikorian received $1,000; in 2010 Patricia Cruz received $400; and in 2012 Kerlly Castellano was named Cheerleader of the Year for the Western United States and was awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
Coaches Kori Johnson, Frank Molina and Maria Cabande were very proud of the girls’ accomplishments both days.
— Reader submission