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| Pirates go all out to win the competition. |
The middle school aged cheerleaders that comprise the St. Mary’s Park’s and Recreation Pirates now have more to cheer about after winning the American Dance and Cheer Academy Maryland Cup on Sunday, Feb. 1 at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro.
The excited group of teens, all hailing from Esperanza Middle School, made the transition from a middle school sponsored unit to that of Parks and Recreation early last year when the school board did not fund middle school cheerleading squads. Even so, the teens performed at a U.S. Naval Academy football game and a Navy basketball game in addition to other competitive efforts.
This year, the competition schedule did not allow more than cheering during some
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| Routine after routine, the Pirates performed well and won. |
intramural sports, but the enthusiastic teens out did themselves on Feb. 1 taking first place.
The win now qualifies the Pirates to compete in the National Competition in Ocean City on Feb.28 – a northeast regional competition. After that the Pirates will compete in the U.S. Finals held in Virginia Beach, VA on May 2.
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Picture left to right top row: Shelbee Barnes, Karina Bruce, Katie Weber, Aliyah Blanks, Morgan Russell, and Victoria Pulliam.
Second row left to right: Emily Kwasniak, Katrina Wagaman, Summer Staso, Victoria Rock, Elaina Morris, and Aryella Ward.
Front row kneeling: Megan Brown, Kasey Gatton, Taylor Kovacic, and Samantha Janey. Not pictured: Rochelle Ashton, Jashayla Carr, Shannon Knoefel, Melissa Selby and Shelbi Williams.
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