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Cheerleaders gain momentum at camp

Jason Starr

The Summit High School cheerleading squad is smaller in numbers this year, but last week’s camp in Boulder proved that it is growing in skill.

Five Tigers cheerleaders, along with second-year coach Maggie Hedge, made the trip to the University of Colorado for the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) camp.

The four-day camp began and ended with competitions, and the Tigers came away with two first-place finishes – one in dance and the other in cheer. Summit also won the prestigious Leadership Award, voted on by the close to 100 other cheerleaders at the camp.



“It’s a very high honor to win,” Hedge said.

In addition, two squad members were selected for the camp all-star team. Incoming freshman Alex Guras earned a trip to Houston this fall to perform with other UCA all stars at halftime of an NCAA bowl game. Incoming junior Felicia Bergman was invited to join other all stars to perform in London on New Year’s Eve.



The squad plans to try its fortunes at competition this season, starting with a couple small events on the Front Range.

“That is one of the goals that the girls set for themselves,” Hedge said. “We definitely are going to strive toward that.”

The Tigers are still in a building mode since reforming in 2001 for the first time in 10 years. In addition to the five current members – Guras, Bergman, Amber Prim, Michelle Farrell and Shannon Jorgenson – Mike Leone will work with the team in the fall as school mascot. There will also be a midseason tryout this fall.

Last year the team started with nine members and increased to 13 after the midseason tryout. Hedge hopes to work with the middle school and elementary schools to develop a feeder program.

The team is trying to change attitudes about cheerleading at Summit High School, which Hedge said can be negative and dismissive.

“We’re trying to just build the program, because it’s a new program,” she said. “We want to bring it to the forefront. Our girls have already surpassed what the squad was doing last fall.”

Jason Starr can be reached at (970) 668-3998 Ext. 231 or at

jstarr@summitdaily.com.


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