Lehman High School’s Nationals-bound cheerleading team celebrates its first place showing at the UCA Regional Qualifiers Meet. The team includes (back, left to right), Alex Babino, Kody Banda; (2nd row, left to right) Mykell Epps, Marisa Luna, Marissa Palacios, Joshua Peterson, Olivia Workman, Raechelle DeSalvo, Nathan Lewis, Shelby Rotter; (3rd row, left to right) Rina Caravantes, Tori Van Wart, Breanna Alonzo, Michelle Abeita, Katie Maxwell, Krystin Tambur, Danielle Tamayo, Hector Castro; (front, left to right) Cecilia Delgado, Alexis Ramirez, Amanda Guerra and Briana Zaragoza. (Courtesy photo)
by JIM CULLEN
Countless hours of practice spread over weeks and months of time have paid off royally for the Lehman High School cheerleaders. Coached by Stacy Martinez, the group competed at the recent Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Regional Qualifier Meet at Texas State University and came home with a coveted bid to the UCA Nationals.
Competing in the Small Varsity Co-Ed Division (up to 20 members, with as many as four boys), the Lobos had a first-ever first place showing, which earned them the bid to the National High School cheerleading championships. Additionally, the Lobo varsity girls competed in the Time-out Dance Routine, grabbing a second place for their original dance routine.
“We’re going!” Martinez emphatically confirmed about the trip to Nationals, set for February at Disney World in Florida. Additionally, the team competes at the UCA State Meet next month, Martinez adding that she and her team hope to bring home first again. She points to how hard her team worked leading up to the recent meet, practicing on Friday nights and Saturdays for hours. The enthusiastic coach says her team inspires her to coach, that she “couldn’t ask for a better squad,” and that she wants to thank coaches Joseph Martinez and Donye Curry for all of their hard work.
The team has, by necessity, begun raising funds for the trip to Nationals, offering a Jan. 14 brisket and trimmings barbecue at their campus and $100 student sponsorships (sponsors included on team’s Nationals t-shirt). For more information contact Martinez at [email protected].
