Iola High’s cheerleading squad continues to come out on top at summer camp.
The 2011-2012 IHS cheerleaders brought home “The Banana” award and were named All Over Camp champs at July’s UCA Cheer Camp in Emporia. Iola has been the top “banana” the past four years at the Universal Cheerleaders Association camp session.
There were 23 schools at the UCA session held on the campus of Emporia State University.
“These 19 young ladies worked very hard and earned top blues in their evaluations each day at the camp,” said Penny Herder, IHS cheer squad sponsor. “They really represented Iola High and the community well.”
The All Over Camp Champ award has been given only the past two years. Iola has won it both times.
An individual award given for the second year in a row is the “Pin-It Award.” It is given to four individuals then they each give it to an individual from another squad.
Chanel Coyne, a junior, received a “Pin-It Award” for the second straight camp and senior captain Celeste Ambrose also earned a “Pin-It Award.”
Ambrose and Coyne earned UCA camp All-American Cheerleader medals. They went through All-American Cheerleader tryouts.
Senior captains Ashlyn Rowe and Ambrose were offered an opportunity to go through the tryout process to became a UCA staff member. One of this year’s UCA camp staff members was former IHS yell leader Derek Danford.
Danford was a member of the 2008-2009 Iola squad which was the first year Iola won the top banana at camp. Danford is a junior at Wichita State University and a member of the WSU cheer squad.
“It was fun to have Derek as one of our camp staff members,” Herder said. “Each year I invite parents to the final day of camp when the awards are announced. It was great to have over 60 people there in support of the girls.”
Herder attended cheer coaches’ classes during the camp.
IHS cheerleaders are tops
