By snoadmin
The Long Beach State Co-ed Cheer Team achieved victory as they came in first place at a two-day United Spirit Association (USA) Collegiate National competition held at Cashman Center in Las Vegas that began Sunday.
For the cheer team, this is their first win in the large co-ed cheer division – which Team Coordinator Chance Decker said was “a very tough competition.”
Decker said that for the co-ed cheer team, going into a larger and more competitive competition was risky, since this was their first competition in a larger division.
“We had to step out of our comfort zone,” Decker said.
The Long Beach State Co-ed Cheer Team brought home the winning title, which for the past two years has belonged to the University of Oregon.
“It felt amazing!” said team member Emily Harlan.
At the competition, the cheer team was judged in several categories such as stunt, tumbling, execution, choreography and appearance. The Long Beach State co-ed cheer team averaged a score of 91 out of 100.
Cheer Coach Erick Anderson said he started choreography for the competition two months ago and the cheer team has been training twice a week. Decker said that it took a lot of practice and memorization.
“They were phenomenal on a level of athleticism and difficulty,” Anderson said.
The Long Beach State cheer team is collectively made up of an all girls squad and a co-ed team. The teams perform at all volleyball and basketball home games, according to beachpride.com. The cheer teams also compete at Big West games and tournaments as well as regional and national competitions. According to the Beachpride Web site, under Anderson, the cheer team won national championships in 2003 and 2004.
Up next for the Long Beach co-ed cheer team is a National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) competition that will be held in April in Daytona Beach, Fla. The cheer team will yet again be up against East Coast competition.
“The East Coast looks down on California [cheer teams],” said Kellie Richardson, one of the cheer team captains. “Our main goal is to show that we can beat the best.”
The Long Beach State cheer team will be performing at this Saturday’s “Back to 49er Days” Homecoming which is presented by the CSULB Alumni Association and 49er Athletic Association.
