Sparkman Senators Cheerleaders Are World Champions!
ORLANDO, Fla.- The Sparkman High competition cheer squad recently secured a first in school history. The 21-member squad won the Universal Cheerleaders Association World Cheer Championship in competition held in Orlando, Fla.
“This was the first time Sparkman has ever entered this competition and for us to come away winning it is such a huge accomplishment for this team, Sparkman High School and for the USA,” said Lisa Aderholt cheer head coach for Sparkman.
The Senators attended the UCA National Cheerleading Competition looking to win their 14th National Championship. Going through the preliminary rounds against a bevy of squads, the Senators were seeded second going into the championship round. With high hopes and great expectations, the squad entered the finals only to slightly falter in their routine ending pyramid and finished runner-up in the Small Co-Ed Division.
“Our kids were on such an emotional roller coaster through the nationals they came back even stronger on the second day of competition in the world event,” said Aderholt.
Cassie Thompson, a senior Co-Captain for the squad, said, “This team has overcome so many obstacles this year with injuries and sickness, but despite those we overcame them. Though we did not get the result we wanted at Nationals, I was still very proud of everyone and I knew the next day everyone would come back stronger.”
And stronger they did. Competing against squads representing foreign countries Canada, Chinese Taipei, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico and Puerto Rico and other locations across the United States, the Senators performed a nearly perfect, clean routine without any deductions on their way to claiming the World Championship.
“I’m very proud of our student-athletes for having the mental toughness to be able to handle the stress of two very intense competitions on back-to-back days,” added Aderholt. “The two day were exhausting.”
“In order to have success in the end, the drive has to be there from the beginning and that was my motivation every practice leading up to the event,” said Thompson. “This team worked so hard this season. I am proud of my teammates and to represent such a great program and country.”
The World Champion squad consisted of seniors Nikki Ahlf (Co-Captain), Caitlin Callahan, Maddie Cardamone, Ariel Cunningham (Co-Captain), Anna Hall (Co-Captain), Matthew Houston, Hannah Ingram (Co-Captain), Aubrey Sales (Co-Captain) and Cassie Thompson (Co-Captain). Juniors Eric Bullard, Alexxandria Burnette, Abbi Johnson, Madison Kuykendall, Dylan Ratliff, Carolyn Scruggs-Webster, Sarah Sipes and Carly Turvin. Sophomores Amari Johnson and LaTana Sparrow. Freshman, Laura Damewood and Jake Johnson.
