Tryouts for the Kaua‘i Police Activities League cheerleading program will take place this evening at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School covered gym area. Youngsters between the ages of 5 to 7 years old will take the floor between 5 and
Tryouts for the Kaua‘i Police Activities League cheerleading program will take place this evening at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School covered gym area.
Youngsters between the ages of 5 to 7 years old will take the floor between 5 and 6:30 p.m. with youngsters from 8 to 19 years old trying out from 6 to 8 p.m.
Participants are asked to bring a copy of their birth certificate and a photo of themselves. A parent’s or guardian’s signature will also be required.
Ann Ozaki, who was recently certified as an All Star Cheerleading Coach asks that participants wear comfortable clothing such as stretch shorts/pants, a tee shirt and shoes.
No tank tops, jeans, jean shorts, slippers or jewelry will be worn at the tryouts.
Ozaki said All Star Cheerleading is a relatively new sport in the nation and is rapidly growing. She said the latest cheer sport gave birth about four years ago.
“There are only a handful of teams in the state, and on Kaua‘i, this will be the first of its kind,” Ozaki said.
Over the weekend, Ozaki took two Kaua‘i youngsters whom she felt were candidates for All Star Cheer to a cheer camp on O‘ahu.
Both spiritsters, eighth graders, earned ribbons for their performances. Topaz Fernandez, a CKMS student, and Cassandra Owen, a student from Waimea Canyon School, both returned with Leadership and Showmanship awards for their participation at Moanalua High School.
Ozaki was presented the Outstanding Coach award, a specially inscribed megaphone, at that camp hosted by Kelly Mikami of All Attitude Athletics.
“I was floored,” Ozaki said. “But, the award will come in handy because I’ll use it for the tryouts today.”
Ozaki said All Star Cheer is the “hottest scene” in cheerleading.
“You train strictly for competition,” she said. “Routines consist of lots of gymnastics (tumbling), stunting and dance for two and a half minutes.”
Ozaki has been certified as a coach under the United States All Star Federation in all levels and in areas of tumbling, stunting and tosses.
She is aiming to get a safety certification by the end of this month as well.
All Star Cheerleading has been a dream of Ozaki’s for several years and the Thursday tryouts is the first step in realizing this dream.
“I love all the cheerleaders I worked with,” she said. “I had a difficult time committing to one team. I wanted to coach all of them.”
All Star Cheer allows Ozaki the opportunity to be able to bring all cheerleaders together in one place where she can work with all of them.
For more information, contact Ozaki at 652-7000.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
