LIHU‘E — The Lihu‘e Patriots Junior Midget cheer squad and the Hanapepe Colts Junior Peewee cheer squad will be heading to Florida this weekend to compete in the National Pop Warner Cheer and Dance competition in Florida. Sponsored by the
LIHU‘E — The Lihu‘e Patriots Junior Midget cheer squad and the Hanapepe Colts Junior Peewee cheer squad will be heading to Florida this weekend to compete in the National Pop Warner Cheer and Dance competition in Florida.
Sponsored by the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League, the two squads were part of six cheer teams who earned eligibility to the national competition during the KPWFL island-wide cheer competition held in October.
Earlier, the KPWFL tackle football JPW champions Hanapepe Colts were on line for a Florida berth before being unseated by the Manoa Paniolo at the Shrine Bowl played at Vidinha Stadium.
Cheerleading was officially recognized in the 1970s, but has been a part of the Pop Warner program for several decades, states the Pop Warner Little Scholars website.
The first National Cheerleading competition was held in DeKalb County, Ga., and has grown to where more than 180,000 children are actively participating in Pop Warner cheerleading and dance throughout the world.
Participation in the Pop Warner Spirit Program offers children an opportunity to perform in an organized, supervised, safety-oriented environment, emphasizing fun for all and encouraging the development of qualities important long after Pop Warner days are gone.
The 2012 Pop Warner National Cheer and Dance Championships will take place from Saturday through Dec. 9 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.
The Hanapepe Colts JPW cheer squad was hoping its Colts JPW tackle football team was successful during the Regional Championships.
But unfortunately, the Manoa Paniolo JPW popped that bubble, leaving the Colts cheer squad to venture forth on their own, the team anxiously admitting this is their first trip to Florida for a national competition where they will compete in the JPW, Small Group, Novice category.
Lihu‘e Patriots, on the other hand, is excited about returning to Florida, seven of their nine-member squad already participating in a previous Pop Warner National Championships two years ago.
The cheer squad is scheduled to compete in the Junior Midget, Small, Advanced division.
The girls were on hand with their advisors, running spaghetti plate lunches to supporters at the Isenberg Park as a final fundraiser for the long trip, serving up more than 400 plates in the two-for-one price.
Team members for the Lihu‘e Patriots Junior Midgets include Gianna Riopta, Kyra Hirokane, Keana Lovell-Obatake, Drewann Pigao, Torrie Hasegawa, Jordyn Kahananui, Tialei Agustin, Brooke Palau, and Sandy Haz.
Head coach for the Patriots is Kristal Pongasi who will have two other coaches helping her in Florida.
Hanapepe Colts JPW Cheer squad includes Kaira Kelekoma, Pomai Campos-Banasihan, Isley Ulanday, Aiyama Lagazo, Qayjah Apuna and Taylor Montemayor.
Head coach for the Colts is Shen Balmidiano and Krystyn Apuna.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
