LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation will have two cheer squads on the floor Saturday during the 2012 Zippy’s Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Cheer Championships at the Blaisdell Arena on O‘ahu. Following a KIF Executive Board meeting Tuesday, the
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation will have two cheer squads on the floor Saturday during the 2012 Zippy’s Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Cheer Championships at the Blaisdell Arena on O‘ahu.
Following a KIF Executive Board meeting Tuesday, the KIF announced Waimea High School cheer squad as the 2012 KIF Cheer Champion following a long weekend where anxious cheer members, parents, friends and supporters lit up social media.
“It was bitter sweet,” said Waimea Cheer Coach Roxanne Cardejon. “It just feels different not to be able to celebrate in the moment.”
At the end of the 2012 KIF Cheerleading Championships Saturday at Waimea High School, Kaua‘i High School was announced as the winner over squads from Kapa‘a and Waimea with 163.5 points, states a KIF release.
Waimea High School followed with 160 points and Kapa‘a finished with 112.5 points, bringing an ecstatic group of Red Raider cheerleaders to the First Hawaiian Bank HHSAA Division II football quarterfinals at Vidinha Stadium.
Later that afternoon, a discovery was made where the point total reflected scores for “Execution” only, the scores for “Difficulty” being inadvertently left out, the KIF release states.
After adding the scores for “Difficulty” where Kaua‘i earned 93 points, Waimea scored 115.5 points and Kapa‘a earned 64.5 points, Waimea High School emerged with 275.5 points followed by Kaua‘i with 256.5 points and Kapa‘a with 177 points.
“We never got negative,” Cardejon said. “I am very proud of our kids and parents, it was a learning experience.”
The KIF announced Waimea as the 2012 KIF Cheerleading Champion in a Wednesday release.
“After eight years of coming in second place, bringing in the championship title was such an amazing moment for the Kaua‘i cheer team,” said Susan Caires, a grandmother whose three granddaughters are a part of the Kaua‘i squad, in an email. “They invested a lot of time and effort and strived hard to do their best in this competition, which is why they were so excited to find out they won. Had we come in second, we would have graciously accepted it. However, after being awarded champions, then having the title stripped away hours later was a defeat which hurt.”
Christopher Chun, the HHSAA Executive Director, after learning of the situation, Sunday, reached an agreement with the HHSAA Executive Board to allow the KIF to send two representatives to the state cheerleading championships, which take place Saturday.
Both Waimea and Kaua‘i high school squads will be representing the KIF at this event.
“Everyone should be out to get us,” Cardejon said. “We are the regining champions, and it won’t be easy. We just have to do our best and give it to the judges to decide and hopefully we do well.”
Marissa Purcell, the Kaua‘i cheer coach, said Waimea will be competing in the Medium Division and Kaua‘i will be participating in the Large Division at the Saturday state cheer championships.
“Thankfully, the Kaua‘i cheer team is being allowed to travel and compete in the 2012 Zippy’s HHSAA state competition Saturday,” Caires said. “Unfortunately, travel costs are our burden as the KIF will only be funding Waimea High School travel in line with its practice of funding the first place winners. I am happy and proud to say my three granddaughters are part of this team and are looking forward to this upcoming competition.”
Caires said the Kaua‘i High School cheer squad is asking for contributions to help defray costs involved in traveling to the state competition on O‘ahu.
Checks should be made payable to “KHS Athletics, Memo: Cheerleaders” and she would gladly pick up any donations. Call 651-6152 for more information.
“The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation Executive Board acknowledges the inadvertent error and apologizes to the cheerleading squads from Waimea and Kaua‘i high schools, their coaches, family and friends who were affected by this error,” the release states.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
