Cheer teams celebrate national recognition

The Eagles, Oak Park High School’s cheerleading team, set a new school record by placing second in the nation at the USA National Cheerleading Champ-ionships held recently at the Anaheim Convention Center.

They competed against 35 teams in the "Large Show Cheer" division that required team members to demonstrate gymnastics, stunting, dancing, pyramid transitions and crowd leading techniques in a two-minute period.

Team members include: freshmen Caitlin Broderick, Amanda Mentzer, Brooke Ramer, Taryn Wiltsey, Alli Bender, Emily Cohen, Becky Schroeder, Christen Stefanich, Keala Asher, Brittany Couture, Whitney Blundell, Elyse Rosenberg, Tayler Hickland, Emily Chambliss, Katie Barrale and sophomores Katie Jones and Nicole Purkey.

Carolyn Purkey is coach.

On April 1, the Agoura High School Spirit Teams competed at the United Spirit Association, USA Nationals, at the Anaheim Convention Center, and completed back-to-back wins in the crowdleading division for 2000 and 2001. This division includes a combination of cheer and dance. The team is given a "situation" by the judges on how to "motivate" the crowd. They combine cheer, dance and numerous stunts based on the impromptu situation given by the judges. Agoura is the only team in the history of its division to repeat as national champions.