Hempfield cheer teams claim national titles

The Hempfield Area Competitive Cheer team boasts a pair of national titles after taking first place in two events at the Universal Cheerleaders Association National High School Cheerleading Championship tournament in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month.

Hempfield was first among four teams in the Youth Rec and Senior Club divisions.

The Youth Rec squad consisted of 16 girls, ages 10 years old and younger. The Senior Club squad had 23 members, ages 14 and under.

All are students in the Hempfield Area School District.

Formed less than two years ago, the team was surprised to claim victories in both events.

“Winning two national titles this quickly is just surreal,” said Kelly Burns, one of five Hempfield coaches. “These girls are some of the hardest workers and push themselves all year long.”

Burns said members of both squads made few mistakes.

“We knew based on the regional competition scores that we had good routines for both squads, but, of course, it's anyone's game that day,” she said.

“You only have 2 minutes and 30 seconds to do your routine and impress the judges.”

Katie Black, 14, a member of the Senior Club squad, said she was more nervous waiting for results than competing.

“I knew we did our best and our routine looked great,” she said.

Burns said it helped that Universal Cheerleaders Association instructors were invited to team practices before the championship.

“We received good feedback from them,” she said.

Lindsay Murray, 14, said she was more nervous than usual in competing for the Senior Club squad.

“Because I was at nationals, the nerves were more intense,” she said. “I just had to rely on (our) hours of practice and hard work to pay off.”

Senior Club squad member Ashlee Shirley, 14, said she was so nervous, she cried.

“The tears wouldn't stop,” she said.

Kennedy Nelson, 9, who competed for Youth Rec, said tumbling gave her the jitters.

Burns said the team is already thinking about the 2017 championship.

“We are planning on a camp in early April and tryouts in late April,” she said. “We are very excited and already choreographing our routines for next year.”

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.