LIHU‘E — Six cheer squads from the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League earned eligibility for the national Pop Warner Cheer and Dance competition Sunday during the KPWFL islandwide cheer competition at Kaua‘i High School. “There were enough divisions so six
LIHU‘E — Six cheer squads from the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League earned eligibility for the national Pop Warner Cheer and Dance competition Sunday during the KPWFL islandwide cheer competition at Kaua‘i High School.
“There were enough divisions so six teams could earn spots to the national competition in Florida,” said Sherri Agosto-Ephan, the KPWLF cheer coordinator. “I don’t have the final commitments from any of the teams, but I think the Lihu‘e Patriots are planning on going.”
The Lihu‘e Patriots earned two of the six spots, its Junior Pee Wee squad competing in the PW2, Small category, and its Junior Midget squad, competing in the PW3, Small category.
The Kekaha Titans, its pepsters donning fedoras following its floor presentations, also earned two spots.
The Kekaha Titans JM squad competed in the PW3, Medium category was joined by its Midget squad, the only one in the competition, competing in the PW2, Medium category.
The Hanapepe Colts JPW squad earned its spot in the PW1, Small category and the Koloa Redskins JM, competing in the PW2, Small category, rounded out the Kaua‘i eligibility teams.
During the islandwide competition, the aspiring young pepsters performed before a panel of judges which included the head cheer coaches from all three public high schools and other community volunteers with ties to cheerleading.
“It was not hard to convince the cadets to come out to volunteer,” said Major Victor Aguilar, leader of the Waimea High School Jr. ROTC color guard. “Three of the cadets, Tiana Lee Apilado, Keesha Malabe and Tyrelle Unciano, were Pop Warner cheerleaders and this was a good way to give back to the program.”
Dignitaries present for the competition included Mel Rapozo, Wescon representative, and Yvonne Hosaka, the Wescon cheer coordinator, who fought so the Kaua‘i squads could advance to the national competition.
“Cheerleading was recognized in the 1970s, although it was going on before then,” said Gail Thompson, a former cheer coach and longtime emcee for the KPWFL cheer competition. “Today, there are more than 180,000 people involved in Pop Warner cheer across the country. Safety is, and will always be, No. 1 in cheer as it is in tackle football.”
The overflow crowd to the Raiderdome was treated to not only award-winning performances from the Pop Warner pepsters, but also got a preview of the upcoming Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cheer competition scheduled for Nov. 10, starting at 11 a.m. at the Waimea High School gym.
Pre-sale tickets for this KIF cheer competition are available from any of the cheer squad members of all three high schools, or by contacting Waimea High School. The national Pop Warner Cheer and Dance competition will take place Dec. 1 through 9 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Florida.
Football games return to Vidinha Stadium next Sunday when the Lihu‘e Patriots Mitey Mites host the Hanapepe Colts in an 8 a.m. kickoff followed by the Patriots JPW hosting the Colts, one of the teams in the division expected to represent Kaua‘i in the playoffs on Maui.
The Kapa‘a Eagles host the afternoon series, opening against the Koloa Redskins in the Junior Midget division at noon followed by the Eagles taking on the Kekaha Titans in the JPW division at 2 p.m. followed by the Eagles/Titans Mitey Mites game kicking off at 4 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
