Contributed to the Telegram

(ENLARGE)

SouthWest Edgecombe Varsity cheerleaders.

(ENLARGE)

SouthWest Edgecombe Junior Varsity cheerleaders.

The SouthWest Edgecombe junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders competed in the Cheer Ltd. Nationals at Canam in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the weekend of March 15 and 16. The junior varsity team finished the two-day competition as second runner-up in the J.V. Small Mount division. The varsity team finished as National Champions in the varsity non-tumble division. This is the second national title in the last three years for the varsity program. Five members of this year's team were members of the 2005-06 national championship team as well.

The two-day event has each team in a division performing a 2 minute, 30 second routine packed with a required cheer, a dance segment, individual partner stunts, team pyramids and tumbling – depending upon division. Teams are scored by two separate panels of judges each day along with safety judges. Winners are determined by combining the scores from each day of competition. Teams represented in the divisions at the national competition were from the United States, Canada, England and Australia.

The junior varsity team received the qualifying bid to attend nationals at a regional competition held in January at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School. The varsity team received their bid at the NCHSAA Invitational Cheerleading Championships in November held on the campus of N.C. State University. The varsity team also competed at the ECCATS Christmas Classic in December held at JH Rose High School, where they were the 3-A varsity winners as well as the overall Grand Champions.

The junior varsity team is coached by Casey Walston, and the varsity team is coached by Cindy Harrell.