LIHU‘E – The Kaua‘i High School Red Raider cheer squad returned home with more luggage than when they left for California. Included in their extra luggage were an additional bag for each of their 21 cheer squad members, a championship
LIHU‘E – The Kaua‘i High School Red Raider cheer squad returned home with more luggage than when they left for California.
Included in their extra luggage were an additional bag for each of their 21 cheer squad members, a championship banner that was tucked away safely in the luggage, and a giant trophy designating them as the winners of the U.S. Championship, Large Coed Division.
Red Raider cheer coach Carrie Naka‘ahiki-Young explained that they were not the only Hawai‘i teams competing at the 2005 NCA/NDA U.S. Championships held at Knott’s Berry Farm on Saturday, Mar. 26.
Mililani High School’s JV squad and Damien Memorial High School’s Senior Varsity squads also competed and finished top in their respective divisions, Naka‘ahiki-Young said.
“These kinds of performances bring a new level of excellence to cheer,” she said.
Long before the Red Raiders attempted to successfully defend their KIF championship, Naka‘ahiki-Young said she had wanted to bring the squad to a national competition.
That dream gave birth to fundraising efforts that began in April of 2004 for the trip that began on Monday night, Mar. 21, the first day of spring break.
Enroute to their appearance at Buena Park, California, the Red Raider cheer squad successfully defended their KIF championship for the third straight year before competing at the HHSAA Zippy’s state cheer championships where they finished third in their division, below the Kamehameha School Warriors, the Baldwin Bears, and edging out Kealakehe for the third position by a scant two points.
Undeterred, the Red Raiders continued their rigorous workouts in preparation for their trip to California.
When the dust settled late Saturday, the Red Raiders had controlled the outcome of their victory, Naka‘ahiki-Young noting that they walked off with an 8.6-point score over the field of four teams, the other teams netting scores ranging from 7.2 to 7.4 points.
Other squads participating in their division included Banning High School, Ross Shepard High School, and Rim of the World High School. The Raiders were second in their performance lineup.
Damien Memorial High School competed in a field of seven squads while the Mililani Trojans JV team also competed in a seven-squad field.
Nicole Longboy, a junior member of the Red Raider pepsters has been with Naka‘ahiki-Young from her Pop Warner cheer tenure, and following their successful performance at the Schultz Theater, went up to her coach and said, “It sure feels good to finally win a national championship after seven years.”
That statement only serves to raise Naka‘ahiki-Young’s level of excellence even higher.
With the trophy yet to be placed in the trophy case at Kaua‘i High School, Naka‘ahiki-Young is already aspiring to bring a Red Raider squad to Florida to compete “It’s a bigger venue,” she said.
And, as schools resume from spring break, Naka‘ahiki-Young said the pepsters get the month off in May, but are already preparing for tryouts for the 2005-06 squad.
The Red Raiders will lose a total of nine seniors to graduation with just one boy returning. But, Naka‘ahiki-Young is encouraged by the fact that among her seniors, two are seriously considering trying out for college cheer programs, and some of her boys are also considering trying out for college cheer scholarships.
She noted that the standards for college-level cheer programs are a lot more rigorous than high school programs, but chances for scholarships, especially for male cheerleaders, are good.
Performing in national cheer competition also raises the level of excellence for the students and puts them in a better position to qualify when trying out for the college programs.
The traveling squad included six boys and 15 girls, two coaches, and the school’s athletic director, Mrs. Charlene Quinones.
Those making the trip included Patrick Kua, Brian Rodriguez, John Rojas, Chad Lopez, Preston Ramson, and Jason Glovasa.
Female pepsters included Holly Shimazu, Kathleen Constantino, a KIF all-star, Longboy, Tiare Valmoja, Taylor Morates, Ashley Fujinaga, Siante Refamonte, Kyra Canales, Keelie Firestone, Nicole Iglesia, Ali Petro, Diandra Melchor, Kimberly Carillo, Jazmine Suniga, and Stephanie Rojas.
Coaches included Nakaahiki-Young, and Todd Young.
