Cheer camp attracts a hundred in Anderson

Rallying Cheerleaders: Happy Valley Cheerleaders get ready to rally the crowd at a cheer camp put on by the National Cheerleading Association at Anderson Union High School.

Cheerleaders from around the North State spent three days at Anderson Union High School attending a camp held by National Cheerleading Association.

The youths learned the basics of stunting, dancing, cheers and chants taught by cheerleaders from different universities around the nation. Ten different schools participated in the event coming from as far away as Quincy and Mt. Shasta. Anderson Union High School and Happy Valley Elementary School also sent their cheer squads.

They were evaluated on their skills and given tips to help them with the future of their sport.

The camp was held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The girls were taught different cheerleading motions, synchronized moves, discipline, teamwork and, most of all, school spirit - getting the school crowd motivated for the team. The coaches also learned the finer points about cheerleading, so they are all learning together.

Shelly Ward-Jones, cheerleading coach from Happy Valley, took her team to the camp. She coached one year for Pop Warner and is now coaching the girls' cheer squad at Happy Valley.

"The girls learned a lot this week. The most important thing that they learned was teamwork and were able to bond with one another through the experience. They won the spirit stick one of the three days which was important to them," Ward-Jones said.

Ari Haeri from Hawaii Pacific University was the staff member working with the Happy Valley team. He spends three months a year teaching at cheerleading camps. He goes to school and cheers for Hawaii Pacific the rest of the year. Haeri also judges cheerleading competitions when needed.

There were seven staff members at the National Cheerleaders Association Camp in Anderson, each working with different groups. This is the first time that the NCA has held a camp at Anderson Union High School.

To find out more about the National Cheerleaders Association Camps, visit their web site at www.ncavarsity.com.