LIHUE — The coaches of the Kekaha Titans Pop Warner cheer team struggled on Sunday to find out when the last time the squad had earned any kind of JAMZ event.
LIHUE — The coaches of the Kekaha Titans Pop Warner cheer team struggled on Sunday to find out when the last time the squad had earned any kind of JAMZ event.
“I think it was in 2008,” one coach said.
Another said she was too old. “They never had things like this when I cheered,” she said.
The cheer crew for the Kekaha Titans Pop Warner cheer returned to Lihue Airport on Sunday, graced with not one, but two First Place Award banners the cheerleaders earned from participating in the JAMZ Youth Nationals that was held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas from Friday through Sunday.
Participating Kekaha cheer performers earned top honors in two divisions — First Place for Division II, Level 2 for youth ages 8 to 11 years old, and First Place for Division 15, Level 2. This level is described by the coaches as “Varsity” for youth ages 12 to 15 years old.
Kauai Pop Warner Football League Commissioner Mel Rapozo said the kids are all Pop Warner, and it’s a lot harder to earn JAMZ honors because there are a lot more people competing. The Pop Warner competitions are restricted to Pop Warner players only who have to travel to Florida for the competition.
Mila Rapanot of the KPWFL and the Kekaha Titans said JAMZ is who the KPWFL uses for the annual big cheer camps, the 2024 event drawing cheer squads from the Neighbor Islands to the old Kauai High School gym.