Something to cheer about

BOWLING GREEN, O.—A spirited performance at an Ann Arbor, Mich., camp earlier this month earned BGSU cheerleaders an invitation to the National Cheerleader Association (NCA) national competition next April in Daytona Beach, Fla.

This is believed to be BGSU’s first bid to nationals, where the Falcons will compete against peers from about 30 other institutions. Criteria for selection are outstanding technical ability and crowd involvement skills.

One of 16 squads at the NCA’s Ann Arbor camp Aug. 3-6, Bowling Green was named Most Collegiate Squad in a vote by the competitors, most of whom were from the Midwest, including the host University of Michigan. BGSU also received the Program Development Award, which recognizes “the entire spirit component of cheerleaders and dancers, and their interplay and ability to work together,” according to Valerie Faley, the University’s cheer/dance adviser.

In addition, the Falcon cheerleaders won the Collegiate Spirit Routine contest and were second in the Collegiate Game Day Routine category.

Several members of the Bowling Green cheerleading and dance squads took other honors as well. Bridget Standifer, a sophomore from Miamisburg, and Gordon Rankin, a sophomore from Columbus, were named “Top Gun Stunters” for their choreographed routine of cheerleading skills. Ashley McCoy, a junior from Westerville, and freshmen Jeanette Davis of North Olmsted and Cassie Yeates of Mokena, Ill., were “Top Gun Dancers.”

(Posted August 20, 2004 )