The Perryton High School Cheer Squad along with Coaches Jennifer Feger and Carrie Grimes attended the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) camp July 13-16th at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
During the squad’s time at the four-day camp, they learned several new cheers, chants, band chants, and dances. In addition, the senior squad members went through leadership training. The squad also learned the importance of stunting safely, stunting techniques, and new stunt skills. The squad went through 2 evaluations. The first evaluation was on an entrance, a camp cheer, and chant where the squad received a superior ribbon in the cheer and chant and technical excellence in crowd involvement, and received the prestigious spirit stick. The second evaluation was on the band chant taught by the NCA staff and again the squad received a superior ribbon along with the herkie team award and the spirit stick. The herkie team award is voted on by the squads that were in their evaluation group. On the final day of camp, Perryton High School Cheer competed in Top Team Chant and Top Team Band Chant. The squad was awarded the Top Team Chant trophy along with a bid to compete at Nationals.
Pictured bottom row L to R: Saleen Nyman, Emily Ortiz, Ivonne Villagran, NCA Staff Buddy Jacob, Deanna Gutierrez, Hope DeSantiago, and Jaki Mercado. Top row L to R: Samantha Sandoval, Natalia Salas, Adrian Arellano, Kamri Kerl, Savanna Pshigoda, Breanna Castanon, and Abi Vazquez.
All- American Nominees pictured L to R: Deanna Gutierrez, Saleen Nyman, Emily Ortiz, Adrian Arellano, Savanna Pshigoda, Hope DeSantiago, Jaki Mercado, Abi Vazquez, and Ivonne Villagran.
During the week the squad had a total of nine All-American nominees that included; Adrian Arellano, Deanna Gutierrez, Saleen Nyman, Emily Ortiz, Savanna Pshigoda, Abi Vazquez, Ivonne Villagran, Hope DeSantiago, and Jaki Mercado. The final day of camp the All-American nominees can try out for All-American Cheerleader. This tryout consists of 3 stamina jumps, a spirited entrance, tumbling, and the All-American Cheer learned at camp.
Making the All-American team were Deanna Gutierrez and Saleen Nyman.
PHS Cheer coaches Jennifer Feger and Carrie Grimes updated their coaching credentials by participating in the coaches' clinics. The clinics consisted of learning stunt safety training, goal setting, leadership training, and a swap shop between coaches.
In addition to the great accomplishments of the squad at camp, there were some other prestigious honors given. Saleen Nyman and Hope DeSantiago were given NCA applications from the NCA staff to try out for a position to become an NCA staff member.
Deanna Gutierrez was also a recipient of the NCA-Pin it forward. This pin is given to a cheerleader during camp by a staff member. The qualifications the staff look for are: leadership, great spirit, and shows passion. Once you have been pinned, it becomes the recipient’s responsibility to look for another camper who shows the same qualities and pins it forward to them on the last day of camp.
The squad is looking forward to cheering on the Rangers & Rangerettes this upcoming school year. They have worked so hard and have learned so many new things they can’t wait to show off. Coach Feger said, “I am so proud of this squad, we worked hard, had fun, bonded, and are coming home better than we were.”
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