Revived Parkland cheerleading squad wins in competition
The cheerleaders are shown in order of shortest to tallest: Mikisha Davis -12th grade, Aniah Brown - 10th grade, Alexis Tilotson - 11th grade, Katarah McKey - 10th grade, Andra Woods - 12th grade, Hosanna Dean - 12th grade -co-captain, Jewel Moser - 10th grade - co-captain, Aiesha McDowell - 11th grade, Sydney Johnson - 11th grade.
Photo by Timothy Ramsey
BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY
THE CHRONICLE
The Parkland Magnet High School cheerleading squad had not competed in a competition in 12 years. So to take home first place in the Non-stunt/Non-tumble Division and second overall in the National Stomp and Shake competition, organized by Powerhouse Spirit Competitions, was a dream come true.
Second year head coach JaMeka Price said she was asked to enter her squad into the competition in November 2015. She initially refused because she didn’t feel as though her girls were ready.
After receiving phone calls from event organizers who insisted she enter as well as the progression of her girls, she relented and entered her team.
“It was wonderful to win first place in our division and second overall,” Price said. “It was a feat in itself to come from 12 years of not competing in cheerleading. To get a group of girls that were determined and dedicated, the coaching staff was very happy.”
Before the competition, the coaching staff and team came up with solid routine they felt they could perform well. After losing a few of her girls throughout the year, coach Price decided to enter the girls into the Non-stunt/Non-tumble division, as she thought it gave them the best chance to win. Changes to the routine were added all the way up until the week of the competition, which took place on March 19. Price and assistant coach Ebone Foster were confident that the girls would pick up the new material very quickly.
Teams from across North Carolina as well as Virginia were present at the competition, and Parkland bested them all in their division. According to Foster, the girls stuck it out and left everything they had out on the floor and said they “left her in tears.”
“It feels amazing to win the competition because we worked so hard,” said co-captain Jewel Moser. “I knew that we were gonna do well, but I didn’t know if we would win. I was a bit nervous to see the size of the crowd and all of the people that were there, but I was more excited than anything else.”
Fellow co-captain Hosanna Dean said, “It was a relief because at first we didn’t think we were ready. Once we were on the floor, we hit it and left our heart out there. We had never done it before, so it was a new thing to us and the school, and for us to win first time out was great”
Foster stated she is most proud of the girls for putting forth the extra effort outside of the regular cheer season. She was also amazed the girls even competed after losing teammates so close to the competition.
“They never gave up, and they kept pushing,” said Price. “Even when we pushed them past where they felt comfortable, they kept going. She stated her outlook for next year is simply “bigger and better” and thinks that not only can they win their division next year they can take home the overall title.
