Cheering each other on

Local schools take part in camp

Jolea Gregorio, 12, far right, practices a routine at the local junior high school cheer camp on Thursday at Del Norte High School. More than 40 cheerleaders took part in the cheer camp. For more photos, go to triplicate.com/photos. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Counting the steps out loud, they focused on the task at hand as several other groups worked on their cheer moves on the final day of junior high cheer camp at Del Norte High School on Thursday.

“It’s been amazing,” said incoming Smith River eighth grader Alejandra Garcia. “We’re learning a lot of steps so we’re going to be ready when we compete.”

This is the first year that there has been a camp made up of participants from all three local schools –– Smith River, Crescent Elk and Redwoods.

Before, they would have their own summer camps or go out of town for camps.

Redwood head cheer coach Robyn Holt said that it’s important to have the cheerleaders from all three schools learn similar routines since they will all work together once they hit high school at Del Norte. Starting this year, cheerleaders will perform together at halftime of middle school basketball games.

“It’s been great to meet new people and learn new routines,” said incoming Redwood eighth-grader Molly Hennessy.

Holt said that the participants have progressed remarkably well since the camp began Tuesday. The cheerleaders met each day for seven hours.

Emily Holt, 12, gets help with her tumbling from camp organizer Joey Young, left, and camp volunteer Danielle Robertson on Thursday at Del Norte High School. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Camp coordinator Joey Young has taught the sport for a number of years.

The 1992 Del Norte graduate was a member of the Warriors cheer team and has been head cheer coach at the high school.

Young said it’s terrific to finally have all the  middle school cheerleaders  together. After all, “we’re all Del Norte,” he said.

“They are learning the steps well and are working hard to get better,” he said.

Joely Tynes, an incoming eighth-grader at Crescent Elk, said that she never had done cheer stunt work before. Thanks to the camp, she is learning how to do this important part of the sport.

“It’s been really helpful,” she said. “Everyone’s been really nice and it’s just been fun.”

The coaches from the three local middle schools assisted with the camp as well as three former Warrior cheerleaders –– Amber Bachmann, Daniele Robertson and Candace Fugate.

Holt hopes to expand the camp next year and have more days and perhaps include teams from Humboldt County.