Ascensio-Porter wins first in NCA event

Gentry cheer squad earns superior ribbons, selected to perform in promotional video

June 19, 2013 at 1:14 a.m.

by Randy Moll

The Gentry cheer squad (right) posed for a photo at the recent NCA cheer camp in Hot Springs. Pictured (not in any certain order) are: seniors Sophia Ascensio-Porter (back row, middle), Cheyenne Dotson, Lindsey Holt and Kristen Flesner; juniors Kyla Riggs, Whitney Scott, Mycah Turtle, Shelby Allen, Ericka Horton and Niki Lee; sophomores Sydney Hodges, Brittney Atwood, Lexie Clark, Erika Magana and Amanda Brenes.
The Gentry cheer squad (right) posed for a photo at the recent NCA cheer camp in Hot Springs. Pictured (not in any certain order) are: seniors Sophia Ascensio-Porter (back row, middle), Cheyenne Dotson, Lindsey Holt and Kristen Flesner; juniors Kyla Riggs, Whitney Scott, Mycah Turtle, Shelby Allen, Ericka Horton and Niki Lee; sophomores Sydney Hodges, Brittney Atwood, Lexie Clark, Erika Magana and Amanda Brenes.

GENTRY - Sophia Ascencio-Porter won the Top Gun Jumper Award at the National Cheerleaders Association performance camp in Hot Springs last week.

Ascensio-Porter took first place in jumps out of approximately 375 campers at the NCA event.

In addition, Ascencio-Porter placed in the top eight in the tumbling competition and was selected to try out to be on the NCA staff next summer.

As a team, Gentry's 2013 cheerleading squad won two superior ribbons for their performances and won one spirit stick during the competition held at the convention center from Wednesday through Saturday.

The Gentry girls were also selected to participate in routines which will be a part of an NCA marketing video expected to be released later this summer.

Gentry's cheer coach, Joni Wilson, said the girls did well and gained valuable experience performing in the same arena in which state competition is held in December.

Sports, Pages 10 on 06/19/2013