Amador Valley High Schools’ three Competition Spirit Squads competed in the USA High School Spirit Nationals on March 18 and 19 in Anaheim. The Varsity Comp Squad took second place in its division. The girls performed twice and competed against 22 other teams from around the state. They tumbled, cheered, flew and danced their way to an almost perfect routine, said Lori Rice, mother of competitor Catie Rice. Students (pictured) on this year’s Varsity Comp Squad are: Emi Anderson, Kendal Aguilar-Erdei, Mallory Brown, Danielle Butler, Kristin Hong, Emily Pesicka, Catie Rice, Kelly Wevill, Kelci Gilmour, Ashley Miller, Michelle Lanning, Alyssa Browning, Sabrina Libert, and Lauren Bayly. Rice adds that the JV Competition Spirit Squad performed its best routine of the year. “Although they didn’t make it to the finals, their performance was amazing!” she said. Competing on the JV Comp Squad are: Annie Harbottle, Caterina Natale, Alexa Gill, Alyssa St. John, Rebecca Mackenzie, Danellie Suchon, Sara Danko, Lauren Jancoski, Ashley Patula, Shelbie Chubb and Lauren Bayly.
Despite some last minute changes to Amador’s five-person Group Stunt Team, with only a few hours of practice the girls took seventh place in their division out of 53 teams. “They were unbelievable!” Rice said. The girls on the Group Stunt Team are: Emi Anderson, Danielle Butler, Kristin Hong, Sabrina Libert and Alyssa Browning. Competition Spirit Squad coaches are Katie Pesicka, Maria Annicchero, Erin Gilmor and Mike Grenz.
–Carol Bogart
