(Dec. 1, 2016) The Berlin Pop Warner cheerleaders will compete at nationals in Disney World on Monday after coming in second place during the Eastern Regional competition Nov. 6 in New Jersey.
The Berlin Seahawks Pop Warner squad took second out of five teams in the regional competition and they have advanced to nationals for the second consecutive year.
“Each child costs approximately $1,000,” Head Coach Jessie Parsons said. “For 21 girls that comes to $21,000. Anything we can do to defer some costs for the girls. We only raise money for the kids. Parents and coaches pay their own way.”
Participants are required to book on Disney property and stay for three nights at the Caribbean Beach Resort, which becomes expensive, she said.
Debbie Donahue, who is in charge of the cheerleading program in Berlin, created a GoFundMe web page to raise money for the trip to Florida and there has been $210 in donations pledged as of Tuesday night.
The 21, level three peewee cheerleaders range in age from 9-13 years old. Most of the girls have been cheering together for a number of years, while six are new to the sport.
“I am proud we are going to nationals and made it this far,” said Dy’Nasia Anderson, 10, a new member of the Berlin cheerleading squad. “I like the show and goes (cheerleading stunt) in our routine and we have worked really hard.”
Anderson looks forward to visiting Disney World for the first time, participating in nationals and going on the amusement park rides.
“We have worked really hard and try to improve each year,” said Jenna Olafsson, 11, a five-year veteran of the cheer squad. “I like the tumbling in our routine.”
This is her second trip to Disney and she is very excited to return with her family.
“We have worked really hard to get there and tried our best at the competitions,” said Cassie Perry, 12, who has been cheering for the Pop Warner Berlin Seahawks for two years. “I like the basket tosses in our routine.”
She is excited to be returning to nationals with her dad and brother.
Training for the competitions began in August. In addition, the cheerleaders perform every Saturday during Pop Warner football games and practice three days a week.
“We have year-round cheerleading in the Pop Warner program and the girls learned a lot in the offseason,” Parsons said. “They have worked hard, the tumbling is better and they will be bringing these new skills to the routine.”
The cheerleaders will use their winning routine consisting of cheer, dance, tumbling and stunts for the national competition at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports in Florida on Monday, Dec. 5.
“This is the hardest routine we have ever put together and we must give credit to Debbie Donahue, who is in charge of the cheer program in Berlin and has been dedicated to the program for 18 years,” Parsons said. “Debbie and Jen Robins worked together to put our routine together.”
The girls have T-shirts with their new routine chant, “Faith, trust and pixie dust,” on them, which is playing off Peter Pan.
“The dances and stunts are harder,” Parsons said. “We have quadrupled the amount of tumbling in the routine and it’s faster paced.”
Pop Warner cheerleaders are required to maintain acceptable grade point averages to participate in the nonprofit organization’s programs.
All adult volunteers go through certification programs and participants rely on donations to attend national championships. The squad has six coaches this year.
“I was excited to get involved and the girls stepped up their game from last year,” Robins said. “These girls are absolutely amazing.”
To donate money to the cheerleaders on their GoFundMe page, visit www.gofundme.com/berlin-seahawks-pop-warner-cheer.
Berlin Pop Warner is also accepting monetary donations for its football and cheer program. Donations are tax deductible and can be mailed to: Worcester County Youth Football P.O. Box 205 Berlin, Maryland, 21811.
For more information on the Worcester County Youth Football and Cheerleading Berlin Seahawks, call 443-783-8628 or visit www.BerlinSeahawks.com.
The Berlin Seahawks Pop Warner squad took second out of five teams in the regional competition and they have advanced to nationals for the second consecutive year.
“Each child costs approximately $1,000,” Head Coach Jessie Parsons said. “For 21 girls that comes to $21,000. Anything we can do to defer some costs for the girls. We only raise money for the kids. Parents and coaches pay their own way.”
Participants are required to book on Disney property and stay for three nights at the Caribbean Beach Resort, which becomes expensive, she said.
Debbie Donahue, who is in charge of the cheerleading program in Berlin, created a GoFundMe web page to raise money for the trip to Florida and there has been $210 in donations pledged as of Tuesday night.
The 21, level three peewee cheerleaders range in age from 9-13 years old. Most of the girls have been cheering together for a number of years, while six are new to the sport.
“I am proud we are going to nationals and made it this far,” said Dy’Nasia Anderson, 10, a new member of the Berlin cheerleading squad. “I like the show and goes (cheerleading stunt) in our routine and we have worked really hard.”
Anderson looks forward to visiting Disney World for the first time, participating in nationals and going on the amusement park rides.
“We have worked really hard and try to improve each year,” said Jenna Olafsson, 11, a five-year veteran of the cheer squad. “I like the tumbling in our routine.”
This is her second trip to Disney and she is very excited to return with her family.
“We have worked really hard to get there and tried our best at the competitions,” said Cassie Perry, 12, who has been cheering for the Pop Warner Berlin Seahawks for two years. “I like the basket tosses in our routine.”
She is excited to be returning to nationals with her dad and brother.
Training for the competitions began in August. In addition, the cheerleaders perform every Saturday during Pop Warner football games and practice three days a week.
“We have year-round cheerleading in the Pop Warner program and the girls learned a lot in the offseason,” Parsons said. “They have worked hard, the tumbling is better and they will be bringing these new skills to the routine.”
The cheerleaders will use their winning routine consisting of cheer, dance, tumbling and stunts for the national competition at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports in Florida on Monday, Dec. 5.
“This is the hardest routine we have ever put together and we must give credit to Debbie Donahue, who is in charge of the cheer program in Berlin and has been dedicated to the program for 18 years,” Parsons said. “Debbie and Jen Robins worked together to put our routine together.”
The girls have T-shirts with their new routine chant, “Faith, trust and pixie dust,” on them, which is playing off Peter Pan.
“The dances and stunts are harder,” Parsons said. “We have quadrupled the amount of tumbling in the routine and it’s faster paced.”
Pop Warner cheerleaders are required to maintain acceptable grade point averages to participate in the nonprofit organization’s programs.
All adult volunteers go through certification programs and participants rely on donations to attend national championships. The squad has six coaches this year.
“I was excited to get involved and the girls stepped up their game from last year,” Robins said. “These girls are absolutely amazing.”
To donate money to the cheerleaders on their GoFundMe page, visit www.gofundme.com/berlin-seahawks-pop-warner-cheer.
Berlin Pop Warner is also accepting monetary donations for its football and cheer program. Donations are tax deductible and can be mailed to: Worcester County Youth Football P.O. Box 205 Berlin, Maryland, 21811.
For more information on the Worcester County Youth Football and Cheerleading Berlin Seahawks, call 443-783-8628 or visit www.BerlinSeahawks.com.