Winter Park Cheerleaders Named National Champs!

by Rick · March 4, 2015

• Bottom row (L to R): Jayssa Cayo, Meghann Vick, Ally Rose, Monique Dyer, Maegan Feeser, Morgan Vick, Paige Stafne, Cristina Cristy
• Top Row (L to R): Head Coach Angela Austin, Walker Legler, Rebecca Klafter, Hailey Adams, Kyra Ashcraft, Elizabeth Hunpatin, Serena LeMand, Alexa Ben-Zeev, Bailey Cain, Brittney Strait, Coach Robin McCormick

More than 15,000 of the country’s top high school cheerleaders and dancers competed in the National High School Cheerleading and Dance Team Championships in February and the Winter Park High School cheerleaders won the Medium Varsity Division I title. The cheerleading championship took place Feb. 7 – 8 and the dance championship the previous weekend of Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, both at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

The two-day events hosted 12,000 cheerleaders from 645 teams and nearly 5,000 dancers from 345 teams. Cheerleading teams are judged on their stunting and tumbling skills, crowd-leading abilities and overall performance, while the dance competition is judged on choreography, technique, execution and overall effect. Teams competing in the championship had to qualify at a regional event in order to participate.

“The growth in championship participation each year is a testament to the popularity of cheerleading and dance, and we are honored to continue to provide this showcase for such hard work and dedication,” said Jeff Webb, CEO of Varsity Spirit, the organization that has hosted the events since the early 1980s.

Varsity Spirit will be posting segments of each performance on www.varsity.com so fans can watch their favorite teams. The competitions will also air on ESPNU and ESPN2 starting in late March and will continue through mid-April. Viewers can check their local listings for air times.

More than 50,000 spectators attended the national championship events, with performances at four different venues within the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and one stage at Hollywood Studios, all on the grounds Walt Disney World Resort.

The Universal Cheerleaders Association and Universal Dance Association are dedicated to the safe and responsible practice of cheerleading and dance, and all teams participating in the National High School Cheerleading and Dance Team Championships comply with the

and Administrators’ safety guidelines.