Watertown High cheerleaders head to national tournament

Watertown's high school cheerleaders have begun the final preparations for the upcoming trip to Nationals in Orlando, Fla., which begin Thursday. The squad held practice Monday night as they tried to fine tune the routine they'll performed for the judges.

"We are really excited," senior cheerleader Sarah Ayache said. "It's an honor to be able to go."

The journey to the national competition began last November at the state competition. Watertown was given a bid to Orlando after the state finals Nov. 18.

Since that time the squad has practiced six days a week in order to make sure everything goes according to plan when the team steps out for their first competition, which will be Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
"We've worked really hard," Ayache said.

"Our goal is to do our best and make it through the preliminaries," fellow senior Jessi Locke said.

Watertown will be sending three male cheerleaders to Florida, two of them seniors. Mark Quintal and Justin Martin, both members of the Purple Tiger football team, are both finding a new appreciation for cheering.

"Before I started cheering, I thought it looked like a breeze," Martin said.
"I learned to cheer in about two weeks," Quintal added. "Its real fun."
The boys were unable to practice with the rest of the squad until they had completed the football season.

Other hardships have arisen along the way as well. Ayache noted many members of the squad were sidelined due to injuries or illness.
Cheerleading coach Nichole Dorris added the Tigers would probably be "the only team in Orlando that has had to practice in the cafeteria."

Competing for gym time with the basketball teams has made it difficult on the squad.

That hasn't stopped the enthusiasm of the team.
"It's worth all the effort," Tiffany Wright said. "We're doing something nobody else around here has done."

The Tigers depart for Orlando Wednesday from the high school. For those interested in how the team is doing, results will be posted online at www.varsity.com.

Staff Writer Kimberly Jordan can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 44 or by e-mail at kimberly.jordan@lebanondemocrat.com.