Baldwin ? Charger fans

In the stands

Yell purple and white

Charger fans

In the stands

Yell Chargers, let’s fight!

Topeka West High School cheerleaders dressed in purple and white uniforms and sparkling hair ribbons took their turns tumbling, jumping and chanting across the Baker University gymnasium.

They were among 14 cheerleading squads from junior highs and high schools across Kansas performing for family and friends June 27, the last day of a Universal Cheer Assn. camp.

More than 300 additional cheerleaders attended a National Cheer Assn. camp June 29-July 2 at Baker University.

“Camp is the biggest thing all year,” said Madison Ellis, a 16-year-old Topeka West junior on the varsity squad. “The whole squad gets together to grow and have fun.”

Cheerleaders from Olathe North High School said camp is important for their team, too.

“Camp brings us together,” said Olathe North junior Dominique Adkins, 15.

But she also said camp can be difficult.

“Working together can be frustrating,” Adkins said. “We have to work on keeping up our spirits.”

For example, one night of camp, her squad did not get the Spirit Stick, the award given daily to a team that displays positive attitude and teamwork.

“The next day we pulled together as a squad, and we got it,” she said.

The last day teams were working toward other awards, called Camp Champion awards, given for performances that morning.

“We all take cheerleading very seriously,” said Brette Cochenour, a 15-year-old Olathe North junior. “We just want to do our best. We aren’t worried about the awards; we just get upset when we know we didn’t do our best.”

Ellis said the Topeka West squad worked hard to prepare for camp by attending practices at 6 a.m. three days a week. She said the work paid off, and camp was a good learning experience for her squad.

“We worked on stunting a lot,” Ellis said.

Olathe North cheerleaders said camp prepares them for the rest of the year. They said it’s the biggest challenge they experience after try-outs are over.

Try-outs, the girls said, are stressful.

“I was nervous half a year before try-outs,” said sophomore Stephanie Hegwald, 15, explaining that more than 50 girls usually try out for approximately 30 spots on the cheer squad.

Girls from Topeka West said there were a number of reasons to choose to become a cheerleader.

“I like cheering for games, and I’m not too much into sports,” said freshman Claire-Monice Spaulding, 14. “Also, I saw the movie ‘Bring It On,’ and that made it look really fun.”

Artena Sheppard said she tried out for cheerleading partially for social reasons.

“I did it because (Spaulding) started to do it,” Sheppard said.

Most cheerleaders agreed the other cheerleaders are what makes all the hard work worth it.

“The best part is the friendship and the bonding,” Adkins said.