LIHU‘E — When the doors to Waimea High School open, Monday, Nelson Acosta and Casey Owen will alredy have something to show for their summer. Nelson, the only boy on the Waimea High School cheer squad, was one of three
LIHU‘E — When the doors to Waimea High School open, Monday, Nelson Acosta and Casey Owen will alredy have something to show for their summer.
Nelson, the only boy on the Waimea High School cheer squad, was one of three Menehune named to the Cheer Hawai‘i Team Elite following the four-day camp at Moanalua High School on O‘ahu.
He received a $1,000 scholarship for the honor. Owen, an 11th grader, received a $500 scholarship for being named to the Team Elite.
Marissa Hesapene, the third Menehune named to the elite squad is still an underclassman, and was presented an award plaque.
“The Team Elite is the Top 40 candidates named following the camp,” said Roxanne Cardejon, the Waimea High School cheer coach. “There were more than 600 students from around the state, so to be selected to the Team Elite is quite an honor.”
That was just part of the honor bestowed upon the Menehune cheer squad that was joined by the Kapa‘a High School Warriors at the same camp.
“We got the Triple Threat award,” Cardejon said. “It’s the Top of the Rock for overall performance in cheer, dance and advanced dance.”
When the Menehune pepsters returned home following the camp, Cardejon said this is the second straight year Waimea has won the Top of the Rock award and she is pleased with how the Waimea students did.
“Kapa‘a earned the Pride megaphone award, Saturday,” Cardejon said. “That was before us. We got the Spirit megaphone award, Sunday.”
Waimea High School cheer squad, with 10 girls and a boy to start the 2009-2010 season, finished by earning the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation championships during the 2008 season, earning the right to represent the island at the Zippy’s Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state cheer championships on O‘ahu.
Waimea, competing in the Large Division at that competition, finished with a solid fourth place, garnering 280.5 points at the Dec. 7, 2008 competition. They missed third place by 3.5 points to Moanalua. Kamehameha-Kapalama topped that division with a 320-point performance followed by Mililani High School.
During the Hawai‘i Cheer camp, Cardejon said all of the O‘ahu schools were present including representatives from the ILH and OIA. Squads from the Big Island and Maui were also present along with the two KIF squads. Kaua‘i High School did not make this year’s camp.
Joining Cardejon in the coaches camp are assistant coach Harvette Acosta, student coaches Sunni Acosta and Nikki Ishibashi.
Team members include Nelson Acosta, Owen, Hesapene, Tasha Okamoto, Nicky Banasihan, Aleina Emayo, Omi Gaspar, Nikki Vea, Bronte‘ Acosta, Bryana Requer-Yorkman and Rozay Palma.
