AHS cheerleaders earn All-American honors
By Jillian Lucas
Albany cheerleaders spent three days together recently in a “home” cheer camp, with several earning All-American honors, and they are now getting ready for an upcoming event for younger girls.
Elementary-age cheerleaders who want to receive a t-shirt for the July 26-28 Cubs Cheer Camp must be pre-registered by next Monday, July 12, according to cheer sponsor Nickie Leveridge.
AHS Home Camp
Albany High School junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders participated in a home cheer camp a few weeks ago at the high school gym.
The camp was held June 21-23.
According to Leveridge, the group took advantage of an option for participation in what is called home camp rather than the typical away camp.
“This year we chose to do a home camp where a member of the National Cheerleaders Association came to us to teach the girls all the components that they would learn at away camp plus so much more,” said Leveridge.
A home camp allows for exclusive direction for each cheerleader as well as for the squad as a whole.
“We were able to get extremely individualized instruction for each of our girls and for our specific school dances and cheers,” Leveridge explained. “We wouldn’t have gotten it to this degree had we opted to go to the away camp.”
Leveridge was concerned about the students missing out on the fellowship that away camp can provide.
“We decided that the girls should stay together during the entire camp experience in order for them to still have the opportunity to bond,” she said. “They ate together, stayed the night together, rode back and forth to camp in a school suburban together – everything was together for those three days.”
Aspects of the camp included cheering, chants, dancing, stunts, and stunt safety class.
“The girls had to complete a safety class before they were able to perform any stunts,” Leveridge said. “Safety is a top priority during cheer camp.”
The team was presented with several awards including Superior Rating in Game Day Evaluation, Superior Rating in Band Chant, Technical Excellence Award, Stunt S.A.F.E. Award, and a National Championship Bid to the Nationals Competition in Dallas in January.
Head cheerleader Kamryn Browning and fellow senior cheerleader Avery Kleiner were both named to the All-American team, and they will be given the opportunity to perform in various parades such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and London’s New Year’s Eve parade.
Mascot Chey’Anne Weaver was named All-American Mascot and can perform with fellow All-American mascots at Disney World in December.
“I am extremely proud of these girls and all the work they have put in,” Leveridge said.
Cubs Cheer Camp
This summer’s Cubs Cheer Camp will be held Monday through Wednesday, July 26-28.
Camp will be held at the AHS gym from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for all future cheerleaders three years old to incoming sixth graders.
The cost is $35 per camper, with each additional sibling adding $20.
Registration forms can be picked up at Nancy Smith Elementary School, or parents can contact Leveridge at 254-246-0623.
Campers will need to be pre-registered by next Monday, July 12 in order to receive a t-shirt.
Parents can also sign up their children the day of camp, but they will not get a shirt.
All participants are asked to perform with their groups at the 2021 Albany Lion Ice Cream Supper in August.
There will be a dress-up theme each day of camp.
Monday will be Hawaiian day, Tuesday is color war (3-4 year olds blue, kindergarten pink, 1st-2nd purple, 3rd-4th yellow, 5th-6th red), and Wednesday, wear Albany Lion gear.
Forms and payment can be mailed to Cheer Camp, c/o Nickie Leveridge, P.O. Box 2050, Albany TX 76430.
