Posted: 4/5/06
Local girls and their team take first place in national cheerleading competition
 The Flyaways Force, a cheerleading team from Forest Lake, took first place in the UPA AmeriCup National Cheerleading competition earlier this year. |
Two local girls, Jaclyn Young and Sara Swanson, along with their competitive cheerleading team, The Flyaways Force, won the UPA AmeriCup National Cheerleading competition over the weekend of Feb. 24-25. The Force walked away with the first place trophy in the Junior Prep Advanced category.
The team, based out of Forest Lake Flyaways Gymnastics Training Center in Forest Lake, is a first year squad of 14 girls, ages eight to 12, from the area.
The Force placed first or second in every event they participated in this year and narrowly missed capturing the state title earlier in the month and settled for runner-up.
However, the team upped their level of difficulty significantly in both tumbling and stunting, and the changes paid off at Nationals.
Coach Megan Kaufman noted the girls were able to nearly double the number of back tucks that were in the routine and add one more scorpion and liberty to what they had used all year.
ìThe girls had a clean, solid performance,î she said. ìThey looked like National Champions, so I wasnít surprised they walked away with the title.î
Young, a fifth grader at Sunrise River School, and Swanson, a eight grader at North Branch Middle School, were ecstatic with the win.
ìThis was our first year in cheerleading, so even though we knew we were good, we couldnít have guessed weíd win nationals,î Swanson said.
Young said that even though there will be a break from cheering until practice starts in June, sheíll enjoy thinking about the weekend.
ìIt was great coming back to the gym with a huge trophy and banner,î she said.
Neither Young nor Swanson had prior experience cheering, but they both came from a strong gymnastics and dance background.
They encourage other girls from the area to try the sport, which has rapidly grown in the last several years.
Girls interested in being a part of The Flyaways Cheerleading Team can contact coach Megan Kaufman or assistant coach Lara Parenteau at (651) 464-8648
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