LIHU‘E — The Waimea High School cheer squad won its eighth Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation Cheer Championship and placed five of its eight members on the KIF Cheer All Stars, Friday night at the Kaua‘i High School gym. Working before a
LIHU‘E — The Waimea High School cheer squad won its eighth Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation Cheer Championship and placed five of its eight members on the KIF Cheer All Stars, Friday night at the Kaua‘i High School gym.
Working before a good-sized audience and a live streaming video crew, the Menehune cheer squad, under head coach Roxanne Cardejon, amassed 325.5 points en route to the title.
Host Kaua‘i High School, under head coach Avery Kano, finished in second place with 288.5 points, placing three of its five performing pepsters on the all star team.
Kapa‘a High School, with Tita Kuhaulua as its head coach, finished with 197.5 points, placing two Warriors on the all star squad.
Topaz Fernandez, the reigning Miss Hawai‘i Filipina and a former Kaua‘i High School cheerleader under Kano, served as the mistress of ceremony, getting surprised when members of the audience broke out in a round of “Happy Birthday” between the competitive routines.
Members of the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League cheer squads who were in the audience were invited to demonstrate some of the cheer fundamentals between rounds, the pepsters working through best jumps, tumbling and stunting exhibitions, the junior cheer members getting rousing applause from the audience.
Senior members of all three high school cheer teams were also brought into the limelight, allowing coaches and fans an opportunity to acknowledge the graduating seniors.
With its victory, the Waimea Menehune cheer squad will represent the KIF at the Zippy’s Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Cheerleading 2011 Championships, Dec. 4 at the Stan Sheriff Center located at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa on O‘ahu.
Waimea, at the 2010 state competition, finished third in the Large Division competition, being edged out by the state champion Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama squad who pocketed its fourth consecutive state title and Mililani High School in second place.
Host Kaua‘i High School also brought home a third place in the Large Division at states in the 2004-05 year, dropping to the champion Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama squad and Baldwin High School from Maui. Waimea’s contribution to the KIF all stars include Marissa Hesapene, Omi Gaspar, Kawena Warren, Nicolei Banasihan, Tiffany Patricio-Huddy. Kapa‘a’s all stars include Kristel Guino and Abby Iglesia while Saunie Torricer, Jessel Galiza and Mahina Tangonan were the selections from the host Kaua‘i High School.
