Two Hollister Viking cheer teams advanced to the national
championships at the Pacific Northwest Regional cheer competition
in Santa Clara on Friday.
The junior pee wee team won the Pacific Northwest crown, while
the pee wees were runner-ups but qualified for the national
competition, nonetheless. The national competition will be held at
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., next week.
SANTA CLARA
Two Hollister Viking cheer teams advanced to the national championships at the Pacific Northwest Regional cheer competition in Santa Clara on Friday.
The junior pee wee team won the Pacific Northwest crown, while the pee wees were runner-ups but qualified for the national competition, nonetheless. The national competition will be held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., next week.
Only the top 10 to 16 teams in the nation from each Pop Warner competitive division earn the right to compete for the national championship. All of the Hollister teams performed challenging routines during Friday’s competition that included far more stunts and difficult moves than most of their competitors; the teams won by executing all of those moves to perfection.
Just like ice skating or gymnastics, competitive cheer teams can earn more points by including difficult stunts and gymnastics moves to their routines. But if they fail in even one of their attempts, deductions result and can often deny a team the top spot.
But Hollister cheerleaders were nearly perfect on Friday, executing their moves flawlessly before a crowd of about 10,000 at Leavey Center. It’s the sixth year in a row the Vikings have sent at least two cheer squads to the national championships. Last year, they sent all three of their competitive squads.
Hollister’s instructional teams, the tiny mites and mighty mites, made up of five- through eight-year-old girls, also performed a stellar routine on Friday that was likely the best for their age group, full of stunts and fast dances. However, the instructional teams cannot win regional trophies or advance to nationals.
It will cost approximately $60,000 to send the two teams to the national championships. About half of that money has already been raised through the raffle; for those who participated, the prize drawings will be on Wednesday at 7 p.m., at Round Table Pizza in Hollister.
The Vikings are still looking to raise about $30,000 in support through other means, including private donations and business sponsorships. Those interested in either of these may contact Public Relations Director Tom Vivian at (831) 726-1747. Information on the tremendous advertising benefits and business exposure from sponsoring Hollister Youth Football and Cheer can also be found on the association’s Web site at: http://www.eteamz.com/HollisterPopWarner/news/index.cfm?cat=563687
