LIHU‘E — They did it on the inaugural year, and on Saturday, Waimea again captured the 2006 KIF Cheer Championships. Working before seven judges at the Kaua‘i High School gym, the Menehune unleashed a barrage of stunts that earned them
LIHU‘E — They did it on the inaugural year, and on Saturday, Waimea again captured the 2006 KIF Cheer Championships.
Working before seven judges at the Kaua‘i High School gym, the Menehune unleashed a barrage of stunts that earned them 218 points to clinch the KIF title over second place Kaua‘i High School who finished with a 194.5-point total.
The victory gives the Menehune the ticket to the 2006 HHSAA Zippy’s State Cheerleading Championship that will take place at the University of Hawai‘i Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday, Mar. 12.
Waimea’s cheer championship breaks a three-year reign of the floor. Following Waimea’s inaugural win in 2002, Kaua‘i High School topped the competition from 2003-05.
At the HHSAA level, Waimea finished sixth in the Medium Division in 2002. Kaua‘i opened their state showing with a fourth place in Medium Division before moving up to the Large Division in 2004-05 where they finished fifth and third respectively.
New to this year’s competition was the addition of a pyramid routine explained the event’s host and hostess Clesson Lee and Tamalyn Hasegawa.
Nalani Layosa rendered the national and state anthem, and special sportsmanship recognition was bestowed upon the Kapa‘a Warriors’ cheer squad.
Judges for the event flew in from O‘ahu for the event and included Avery Kano, Marla Choy, and Susanne O’Sullivan Honda as Performance Judges. Brian Rafael, Kathy Moniz, and Michael Solick were the Safety Judges, and Alexandra Obra was the Overall Range Judge.
The KIF champion Waimea Menehune cheer squad includes Jalacey Sablan, Natasha “Tasha” Acosta, Rufel Gelbolingo, Courtney Espiritu, Jenna Nakamatsu, Shana “Leo” Manoi Resinto, Dani Masumoto, Tiare Horner, Sunni Acosta, Resha Banasihan, and Nicole “Nikki” Ishibashi.
Roxanne Cardejon is the Menehune’s cheer head coach with Harvette Acosta serving as the assistant coach.
