Bogalusa’s cheerleaders spent a few days attending a Universal Cheer Association Cheerleading Camp at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., July 22-25.
“It was a great learning experience for the girls. It also taught them a lot of team-building skills,” Bogalusa High School cheerleading coach and head sponsor Katasha August said. “Throughout the week, I could see the confidence build in the girls. It helped out tremendously.”
August along with Ashley Peters are the team’s coaches.
The clinic featured 16 teams. Most of squads were from Mississippi. The teams were divided into four divisions, junior high, junior varsity, small varsity and large varsity.
Bogalusa competed in the Large Varsity Division.
August said the clinic taught them different dance routines, sideline cheers, dances to perform with the band and how to lead pep rallies.
There were also stunt classes and classes for jumps. The event also featured team-building exercises.
The camp also had a competition and the Lady Jacks finished runner up.
They finished in second place for the Xtreme Routine.
August said they had to incorporate stunts and other skills learned at the camp into the routine. The group had two or three days to practice for the competition.
“It was very exciting,” August said. “I think they were a little shocked.”
August said the team that won camp champ had about 30 girls on the team.
“They all tumbled and were all able to do backflips. For our girls to place second, it was a big confidence booster for them,” August said.
August also said the team saw its hard work and dedication pay off with the second-place finish in the competition part of the clinic at USM.