(Nov. 17, 2016) The Berlin Pop Warner cheerleaders will compete at nationals on Dec. 5 in Disney World after placing second during the Eastern Regional competition on Nov. 6 in New Jersey, and they have just a few weeks to raise money for the trip to Florida.
The Berlin Seahawks Pop Warner squad took second out of five teams in the regional competition and they have advanced to nationals for the second consecutive year.
“Each child costs approximately $1,000,” Head Coach Jessie Parsons said. “For 21 girls that comes to $21,000. Anything we can do to defer some costs for the girls. We only raise money for the kids. Parents and coaches pay their own way.”
Participants are required to book on Disney property and stay for three nights, which becomes expensive, she said.
The squad will host a fundraiser pool party on Friday, Nov. 18, from 6-8 p.m. at the Sports Core Pool in Ocean Pines with music, games and food. The cost is $7 per person, and children under 5 years old get in free.
The cheerleaders will also be collecting donations during the Holiday Shopper’s Fair at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street during Thanksgiving weekend and are selling $1 raffle tickets for a $500 Visa gift card, which will be drawn on Nov. 30.
The 21, level three peewee cheerleaders range in age from 9-13 years old. Most of the girls have been cheering together for a number of years, while six are new to the sport.
Training for the competitions began in August. In addition, the cheerleaders perform every Saturday during Pop Warner football games and practice three days a week.
“We have year-round cheerleading in the Pop Warner program and the girls learned a lot in the offseason,” Parsons said. “They have worked hard, the tumbling is better and they will be bringing these new skills to the routine.”
The cheerleaders will use their winning routine consisting of cheer, dance, tumbling and stunts for the national competition in less than three weeks at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports in Florida.
“This is the hardest routine we have ever put together and we must give credit to Debbie Donahue, who is in charge of the cheer program in Berlin and has been dedicated to the program for 18 years,” Parsons said. “Debbie and Jen Robins worked together to put our routine together.”
Pop Warner cheerleaders are required to maintain acceptable grade point averages to participate in the nonprofit organization’s programs.
All adult volunteers go through certification programs and participants rely on donations to attend national championships. The squad has six coaches this year.
“I was excited to get involved and the girls stepped up their game from last year,” Robins said. “These girls are absolutely amazing.”
To donate money to the cheerleaders on their GoFundMe page, visit www.gofundme.com/berlin-seahawks-pop-warner-cheer.
Berlin Pop Warner is also accepting monetary donations for its football and cheer program. Donations are tax deductible and can be mailed to: Worcester County Youth Football P.O. Box 205 Berlin, Maryland, 21811.
For more information on the Worcester County Youth Football and Cheerleading Berlin Seahawks, call 443-783-8628 or visit www.BerlinSeahawks.com.
The Berlin Seahawks Pop Warner squad took second out of five teams in the regional competition and they have advanced to nationals for the second consecutive year.
“Each child costs approximately $1,000,” Head Coach Jessie Parsons said. “For 21 girls that comes to $21,000. Anything we can do to defer some costs for the girls. We only raise money for the kids. Parents and coaches pay their own way.”
Participants are required to book on Disney property and stay for three nights, which becomes expensive, she said.
The squad will host a fundraiser pool party on Friday, Nov. 18, from 6-8 p.m. at the Sports Core Pool in Ocean Pines with music, games and food. The cost is $7 per person, and children under 5 years old get in free.
The cheerleaders will also be collecting donations during the Holiday Shopper’s Fair at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street during Thanksgiving weekend and are selling $1 raffle tickets for a $500 Visa gift card, which will be drawn on Nov. 30.
The 21, level three peewee cheerleaders range in age from 9-13 years old. Most of the girls have been cheering together for a number of years, while six are new to the sport.
Training for the competitions began in August. In addition, the cheerleaders perform every Saturday during Pop Warner football games and practice three days a week.
“We have year-round cheerleading in the Pop Warner program and the girls learned a lot in the offseason,” Parsons said. “They have worked hard, the tumbling is better and they will be bringing these new skills to the routine.”
The cheerleaders will use their winning routine consisting of cheer, dance, tumbling and stunts for the national competition in less than three weeks at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports in Florida.
“This is the hardest routine we have ever put together and we must give credit to Debbie Donahue, who is in charge of the cheer program in Berlin and has been dedicated to the program for 18 years,” Parsons said. “Debbie and Jen Robins worked together to put our routine together.”
Pop Warner cheerleaders are required to maintain acceptable grade point averages to participate in the nonprofit organization’s programs.
All adult volunteers go through certification programs and participants rely on donations to attend national championships. The squad has six coaches this year.
“I was excited to get involved and the girls stepped up their game from last year,” Robins said. “These girls are absolutely amazing.”
To donate money to the cheerleaders on their GoFundMe page, visit www.gofundme.com/berlin-seahawks-pop-warner-cheer.
Berlin Pop Warner is also accepting monetary donations for its football and cheer program. Donations are tax deductible and can be mailed to: Worcester County Youth Football P.O. Box 205 Berlin, Maryland, 21811.
For more information on the Worcester County Youth Football and Cheerleading Berlin Seahawks, call 443-783-8628 or visit www.BerlinSeahawks.com.