CLHS Cheer Comp Squad Win National Title

A few weeks ago Canyon Lake reached another milestone when their Cheerleading squad came home with a National Championship in competition held at the Dallas Convention Center.

The CLHS Cheer Comp Squad compteted in the National Cheerleaders Association Senior and Junior High Nationals in Dallas, Texas.

“This was the third time that the Comp squad had traveled to Dallas to compete,” Coach Nikki Duggan said excitedly. “We WON the small Novice High School Division beating out 24 other teams from around the nation.”

Excitement would be a word you could use routinely around a group of Cheerleaders.

Canyon Lake’s Squad is made up of 12 cheerleaders and four alternates. This was their third competition and this squad had performed in the Small Novice division. The Hawks have now won every performance division so far this competition season. (at this writing)

Cheerleading is also a lot of work as this squad put in more that eight hours a week into practice.

This year’s squad has had this goal for several years and now can plant a flag on top of this enormous mountaintop claiming their prize.

“Yeah, we reached our goals and we were hoping it would hit,” Senior Micki Zach stated. “This was better than anything else we have achieved.”

This Canyon Lake group had been knocking on this door for the few years and had been seeing cracks of an opening in their recent visits to Dallas. This was the year their knocking quit and they decided to knock that door down.

This group of athletes have been diligent and working hard ever since this past Summer when they started building on this moment.

“We started this Summer,” Zach cheered. “This competition is divided by size (of the school) and we were in the small novice

division. I definitely liked the routine of this competition especially when we got first.”

What better way of being in competition, than being the only male in a group of award winning athletes.

“It can be frustrating sometimes,” Senior Kyle Myers said when asked what it was like working with all the girls. “But it is fun overall and that is about all I can say.”

Seems that Myers was guarding his words wisely as he pondered the question.

“It felt really good to win the National Title because I have been waiting a long time,” Myers continued. “Our performance was better and the feeling you get on the mat was just a great feeling.”

When asked what he would like to do after his graduation, Myers finished, “I want to go to Texas State and do tumbling and stuff like that…this has already helped with my skills.”

These Athletes were not through as they also competed in the NCA Game Day division and received a 2nd place in Small High School Fight Song Division and 4th place in the Small High School Time Out Cheer Division.

Coach Stephanie Holland from San Angelo also helps with choreographing the routines for this accomplished squad.

Coach Duggan closed, “This award is very special to all of us. We have all dreamed of being part of a National Title Team and this squad has worked hard since this summer. They have not let any obstacle stand in their way. Every performance this year has

had changed routines because of having different set of 12 kids on the floor.”

“This did not let these kids get discouraged. They have practiced on weekends and during Christmas break to get ready for this time.”

“I am so proud to be their Cheer Coach.”

Congratulations and the Canyon Lake community would like to thank you for all of your dedicated work and untiring resolve in reaching this goal.