C-H-A-M-P-S!
That's what the Hammond High School varsity cheerleaders are.
The 12-member cheerleading squad took first place in the small varsity category in the Maryland State High School Cheerleading Championships Jan. 22 at University of Maryland at College Park. They won a 2 1/2 -foot trophy and Reebok sweat suits.
And they will get another prize tonight -- performing for three minutes during halftime at University of Maryland and University of North Carolina's sold-out game at Maryland's Cole Field House.
"It means so much, because I definitely wanted to win something before the year ended," said cheerleader Devon Felder, 16, a junior.
She and the other cheerleaders said the squad had to overcome several adversities on the road to victory: Their coach left last summer to have a baby, and they had to get accustomed to her replacement, Rene Buckmon, director of The Teen Center at The Other Barn.
"We proved to ourselves that we can do it no matter who coaches us," said Erica Shipp, 15, a sophomore. "We haven't gotten any respect here [Hammond High]. They think it's a whole bunch of rah rah and jumping around. It's not."
She and the other cheerleaders said cheerleading involves much more than yelling cheers. It involves physical stamina and strength, gymnastics ability, technical skills, concentration and an outgoing personality.
A certain amount of danger is involved. The squad had to overcome injuries after one member broke a collarbone during a stunt. Another member was out with a broken ankle.
For junior Angie Ruud, the victory was a welcome surprise. "I didn't know if we could go on to win it," she said, noting the tough competition from the squad from Stephen Decatur High School in Ocean City.
Cheerleaders from Old Mill High School in Millersville took first rTC place in the large varsity category, for squads with more than 13 members. They will also perform tonight.
Having survived competition from 500 other cheerleaders, the Hammond High squad awaits 14,500 screaming Joe Smith fans.
"I'm excited about going to Maryland," said cheerleader Emily Kita, 16. "I'm so excited. I think it's awesome that Maryland thinks we are good enough to perform before all those people."
The annual cheerleading competition is sponsored by cheerleaders at University of Maryland. The preliminaries were held two weeks before the finals. Seven hundred cheerleaders competed during the initial phase.
Squads were judged on dance, jumps, tumbling, pyramids and other skills, said Tina Simijoski, who coaches University of Maryland's 22 cheerleaders.
The Hammond squad was talented, she said. "Tumbling was their real strong point," Ms. Simijoski said. "Choreography was a real strong point, too.
"They were just a real good team."
Loretta Patterson, who recently watched her 11-year-old son practice in Hammond's auxiliary gym, congratulated Erica Shipp as she entered the gym to practice.
"They worked very, very hard," Mrs. Patterson said. "If anybody ever thought it was an easy job, they should come watch them work out."
During practice, the high-energy cheerleaders performed precise maneuvers with quick, stiff arm movements and smiles on their faces.
They cheered: "Rising to the top! We are the mighty Golden Bears. We can't be stopped. 1-2-3-4! We're here and ready to cheer. Yell go, Maryland Terps, Let's go!"
As his junior varsity basketball team practiced on the other side of the wall, coach Mark Murray praised the cheerleaders' championship.
"Any championship is good at any sport, and cheerleading is a sport. But people don't look at it as a sport," he said.
He said cheerleaders have to be talented and strong to pick up each other and maintain balance. In addition, cheerleaders can turn around a boring game by rousing the crowd.
Cheerleading has come a long way, the team members and coach agreed.
"You have to be a well-rounded athlete," Ms. Buckmon, Hammond's cheerleading coach, said.