Members of the Vance Charter School cheer team weren’t able to get a lot of practice time in before last weekend’s state championship competition – it was that weeklong trip to New York City to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade that kept them off the practice mat.
But just like their months-long fundraising efforts to get all 20 of the VCS high school cheerleaders to make the trip, things turned out OK.
Actually, better than OK.
They brought home another state championship, winning in the the large varsity, no-tumble division.
“The girls put in the work and made it happen,” said Coach Stacey Long, clearly satisfied with the outcome of all the events that have transpired in the last few weeks.
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But Long isn’t just talking about the most recent competition. She’s talking about the way the girls went out into the community, seeking the $70,000 in donations to help get the whole team to New York, all expenses paid.
That was their goal, she said, and that’s exactly what happened. Thanks to the generosity of more than 50 sponsors across Vance and Granville counties – and beyond – the entire cheer team spent a whole week in the Big Apple, for what surely is a trip of a lifetime.
They visited the Empire State Building, took a harbor cruise to see the Statue of Liberty, visited the 911 Memorial and took in a Rockettes show and a Broadway performance, Long said, all thanks to generous sponsors.
“But the actual Thanksgiving Day parade was very magical,” Long told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk. “The girls were just so excited to be a part of that.”
The parade organizers had many activities planned for the participants, but Long and Assistant Coach Shelley Whitehead planned additional outings. But the girls and their chaperones also had some free afternoon time over the course of the trip, too. Some went shopping, visited Central Park and did a little ice skating, among other activities.
“They really got a lot of New York in,” Long said.
And although the iconic tree at Rockefeller Center wasn’t ready for viewing, they did get to see the Saks Fifth Avenue light show display.
“Every day we got up, there was a little more Christmas,” Long said. “The girls really enjoyed seeing that part of New York.”
But no sooner had they returned home than they set their sights on last weekend’s state championship, held in Raleigh on Dec. 3. Add to that cheering for their Knights’ basketball games and next week’s exam schedule, the girls have maintained a tight schedule.
With practices at 6 a.m. and then again in the afternoon, they put the finishing touches on their 2:30-minute routine.
“These girls have put in at least 12-14 hours (of practice) since May,” Long estimated. Logging all those practice hours has paid off, she added.
With another trophy added to the school’s awards case, Long said she wants the young women to take a little time off from practice and focus their attention to next week’s exams.
Then she hopes they’ll take some time to enjoy the holidays with their families. “We’ll let them reset and recharge,” Long added.
Because as soon as the New Year kicks in, they’ll be back on the practice mats. They have another state competition on Jan. 28 in Raleigh. And they’ll be looking to defend their title, which they won last year.
Here’s a list of cheer team members:
Abby Cole
Brianna Dickerson
Helena Florez
Kelcey Hardee
Catherine Hedgepeth
Emma Hicks
Emma Long
Olivia Long
Maya Lloyd
Shakera Macon
Ziya Perry
Mia Satterwhite
Pearla Tabor
Kelsey Waddle
Cheyanne Burroughs
Kate Carrington
Summer Francis
Alina Gonzalez
Ashley Hennessey
Lauren Taylor
Stacey Long- Coach
Shelley Whitehead- Assistant Coach
Following is a list of Sponsors, provided by the VCS cheer coaches:
Platinum Sponsors:
Oxford Cheer Elite
Spectrum Medical Solutions
Stainback & Satterwhite Law Office
Better Beach Rentals & Sales
Silver Sponsors:
Parkview Office Plaza
2000/5 Partners, Inc.
Sprinkle Properties
Drake & Seymour Dentistry
Bronze Sponsors:
Currin Dental Lab, Inc.
Shadowing Oaks
Carrington’s Clearing & Grading
Floyd Management & Realty, Inc.
Goddard & Peterson, PLLC
Wilson’s Carpet
Coffeys Bail Bonds
Dr. Hal & Betty Westerholm
Cloninger Law Office, PLLC
Kim Hedgepeth
Joe Rebo & Associates, Inc.
Larry’s Service Company
Kilian Engineering, Inc.
Granville Haunt Farm/Granville Christmas Farm
The Church of the Holy Innocents
Carolina Sunrock
Margier White State Farm Insurance
EFP Capital, Inc.
Henderson Optimist Club
Roberson Family Dentistry
Individual Sponsors:
Medical Arts Pharmacy
The Pegram Agency
River Wind Farm
C&P Body Shop
Jean Burwell
Milano’s in Oxford
Shalag
Jonathan Care, Attorney at Law, PA
C Squared
Wesco, Inc.
Johnny & Callie Yount
Sammie McCraw
Danny & Jane Williams
Union Bank
Oxford Lions Club
Jerry & Dorcel Edmonds
Skippers Forsyth’s BBQ Inc.
John Young
Bojangles
Ray’s Window Cleaning Services
Newcap Inc.
Ed & Angela Reeves
Sparkly Strands Fairy Hair
Susan Crews
John Wyche
