LIHU‘E — “Coach said we won the national title, so we could have the weekend off,” said Mia Archuleta as she descended the bleachers at the Kaua‘i High School gym Friday night. Archuleta, an 11th grader at Kamehameha Schools on
LIHU‘E — “Coach said we won the national title, so we could have the weekend off,” said Mia Archuleta as she descended the bleachers at the Kaua‘i High School gym Friday night.
Archuleta, an 11th grader at Kamehameha Schools on O‘ahu took advantage of coach Dolly Wong’s generosity to come home where she could watch her step brother Aren Racca and step sister Alyssa Racca in action here.
Aren is a Red Raider basketball player while Alyssa is a member of the Kaua‘i High School cheer squad.
Archuleta is one of the 12-member Kamehameha cheer squad that earned their second straight national title in Orlando, FL. last Saturday.
“We practice seven days a week, three hours a day,” Archuleta explained. “But, since we won (national), the coach said we could enjoy this weekend.”
Archuleta’s mom Lyn added that meant Mia couldn’t come home when other students could because of practice.
Archuleta, who started cheering under coach Carrie Nakaahiki Young and the Lihu‘e Pop Warner Association went to Kapa‘a Middle School and her freshman year at Kapa‘a High School before transferring to Kamehameha.
“Coach Carrie was my first cheering coach, ever,” Archuleta said.
Coach Young whose coed Red Raider squad is preparing to defend their KIF championship this coming Saturday, said Archuleta was a solid base, or one of those performers who anchor the stunts.
Cheering for the Kamehameha Warriors has been a learning experience for Archuleta who says that in addition to the rigorous training schedule, their routines are more competitive, more athletic, and more intense.
As the basketball players wound down their warmups, Archuleta prepared to return to her seat in the Raiderdome, adding, “Lehua Watanabe, the daughter of Wayne and Kathleen Watanabe, is also one of the 12 performers.”
Kamehameha defeated 59 other regional winners to capture the National High School Cheerleading Championship in the small varsity division which has 12 or fewer all-girl performers.
The competition will be telecast on ESPN later in the year.
For coach Young and the Red Raiders, their turn comes Saturday, Feb. 21 starting at 1 p.m. when the KIF hosts the one-time cheer championships.
Being the defending champion has its drawbacks, but Young says she tells her performers, “If we hit, we hit, if not, we gave it our best shot.”
