Pacifica Tigersharks - Jr Pee Wee Cheer are NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

JR PEE WEE CHEER

On December 7th, 2016, history was made. The Pacifica Tigersharks Jr. Pee Wee cheer squad was crowned National Champions of the 2016 National Pop Warner Cheer Championships at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, becoming the first team in Tigersharks history to do so. In fact, no other cheer squad in all of Pacifica at any level, including high school, has ever captured a National Title, making this a history setting accomplishment not just for the Pacifica Tigersharks, but also for the entire City of Pacifica.

The Tigersharks cheer program is no stranger to competing at National Championships, having competed in it 10 times over the course of the last 15 years, but never have they placed in the top 5 until 2014, when they placed 4th in the Nation. Over 325,000 kids participate in Pop Warner Football and Cheer nationwide every year. 10,000 qualify for National Cheer Championships, coming from 7 different Regions across the country, 200 of which make up the 12 teams that the Tigersharks competed against. Taking 4th in 2014 was quite an accomplishment in and of itself. Winning the National Championship, while always the dream, was still something that seemed to be a perennial mirage – until this year.

The 2016 squad, led by Head Coach Chelsea Rutledge, who participated in many National Championships herself as a Tigersharks cheerleader for 8 years, is comprised of 21 hard-working, dedicated and determined girls, many of which were part of the team that placed 4th in 2014 and the team from 2015 which, due to a controversial judging error, were denied their rightful place in the National Championships last year. As a result, the lady Tigersharks vowed to not be denied in 2016.

There’s a common misconception that cheerleading is easy and not a sport, however if one were to watch any one of the Tigersharks practices, they would see just how wrong that opinion is. Beginning August 1st, these young ladies went to work, practicing 5 days per week for 2 hours each day, and 3 days each week September through November, all the while working hard in school to maintain high GPA’s. They practiced hard, working to perfect their craft. And their hard work paid off throughout the season.

In October, they participated in the Peninsula Pop Warner Invitational Cheer Competition at San Jose State University. Not only did they place 1st, but they achieved the highest score of their age group across all levels, earning them the right to perform during the San Jose State vs Reno Wolfpack game on October 15th.

A few short weeks later, they performed at the Peninsula Pop Warner Championships, again at San Jose State. They would have needed to place in the top 3 in order to advance to Regionals. Again, they not only took 1st place, but they scored the top score across all levels and advanced to Regionals, where they competed against teams from the Reno, Nevada and Vancouver, Washington areas.

In order to advance to the National Championships, teams would have to place either 1st or 2nd at Regionals. It was at the Regional Championships last year where these girls were denied the opportunity to compete at Nationals because of an unfortunate error by the judges. With that painful memory engraved in their memory, these girls were not going to be denied and set off to leave no doubt who was the best team. And that they did. Once again, they earned the highest score and for good measure, earned a double digit lead on the team that placed 2nd. Off to Orlando they went.

Performing at the HP Field House Arena in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, the girls executed a flawless routine with their basket tosses, back hand springs and dazzling tumbling, electrifying the crowd and impressing the judges along the way to their first ever National Championship. After the conclusion of the competition, there was a parade of all of the thousands of cheerleaders that competed that day from all over the country, celebrating all of the participants for their excellent performances. Each of the 8 Regions was announced and paraded into the arena to the excitement of the crowd – an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Finally, it was time for the award ceremony, where the top 5 teams place and take home a trophy. There was excitement in the air. Parents sat on pins and needles because they knew their girls put on an exceptional performance. They felt they had a chance to place in the top 5, but remembering what happened last year at Regionals, they knew nothing was a sure thing.

Starting with the 5th place announcement, the coaches, the team, and their parents grew more and more anxious each time a team was announced that was not the Pacifica Tigersharks. After the 5th, 4th and 3rd place teams were announced; everyone wondered if 2nd place was a possibility and also thought how exciting that would be. But then the 2nd place announcement came and went, leaving them all thinking that they’re either going to be extremely disappointed or totally elated. Followed by a brief pause, which seemed to last an eternity, came the following announcement, “And your, Jr. Pee Wee YCADA PW2 Medium National Champions…..PACIFICA TIGERSHARKS!”

Tears of joy, elation and celebration filled the arena as Coach Chelsea and two of the girls on the squad went to the center of the cheer mat to accept the 1st place trophy from the head of Pop Warner, John Butler, and the queen of Disney, Minnie Mouse, herself. History was made!

The 2016 Jr. Pee Wee Pop Warner National Cheer Champion Pacifica Tigersharks are made up of the following hardworking and determined individuals:

Ava Basanez, Kandice Besigna, Jade Blume, Ella Christensen, Angela Constantine, Izabella Cota, Ava Izabella Gomez, Jamie Hall, Madison Kimball, Mariyah Mahasin, Jasmyn Moraski, Malia Morris, Jonaya Nabong, Danika Neily, Gabrielle Newbeck, Mya Romero, Hillary Situ, Nathalie Situ, Natalie Tanner, Sophia Trani, Callie White.

Head Coach Chelsea Rutledge, Athletic Director Nicki Mercurio, Assistant Coach Melissa Kimball, Assistant Coach Nicole Trani, Assistant Coach Jayme Ng, Team Mom Lorena Cota, Student Demonstrator Michaela Callaghan, Student Demonstrator Katie Duffy.

The girls will be recognized for their awesome accomplishment and will be performing on KTVU’s 9am Morning Show on Friday, December 23rd. Be sure to tune in.

Congratulations to the 2016 National Champion Pacifica Tigersharks Jr. Pee Wee Cheer team for a job well done! They have made their coaches, their parents, the Tigersharks organization and the City of Pacifica proud.

www.pacificatigersharks.com