Decatur team attends Fayetteville cheer camp

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Izthel Martinez (upper right) is thrust high into the air by teammate Desi Meek (upper left) and other members of the Decatur High School cheer team during the teams' UCA Cheer Camp competition at Fayetteville High School June 23.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Izthel Martinez (upper right) is thrust high into the air by teammate Desi Meek (upper left) and other members of the Decatur High School cheer team during the teams' UCA Cheer Camp competition at Fayetteville High School June 23.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Decatur High School cheer team picked up a few new moves for the coming sports season recently when they traveled to Fayetteville High School to participate in the Universal Cheerleaders Association Cheer Camp June 21-23 in Fayetteville.

Ladale Clayton, now in her second year as cheer coach, took her team to the three-day event hoping to gain valuable insight into the team's strengths and weaknesses. Jessica Moore, one of the UCA camp's coaches, worked with Clayton and her team to achieve her goal of a better, more productive squad.

Attending the camp for Decatur were co-captains Desi Meek and Tabby Tilley, members Emmy Lee, Heidi Rubi, Stephanie Sandoval, Natalia Rodriquez, Ithzel Martinez, Lauro Molina and Tony Trejo.

During the final day of the camp, June 23, the Bulldogs cheer team learned a new, more difficult maneuver which involved a double pyramid with a twist. Meek, who performs all of the team's elevator and half-elevator routines, was joined by Ithzel Martinez. Martinez, in her first year on the team, had never performed this kind of move and was naturally a little apprehensive at first, and it showed.

Of course, the first few times Decatur attempted the move, it ended with the formation imploding on itself, sending Meek and Martinez crashing into the base of the formation. As the day progressed, the team became more comfortable performing the new move and, eventually, Martinez's apprehension faded and the team became comfortable in the progress of this routine.

By mid-afternoon, it was time for the final competition of the camp. This was the Decatur team's big chance to show the judges, as well as other cheer teams, just what they learned during the three-day camp.

When Decatur took the mat for its presentation of the maneuvers, the confidence level among the seven girls and two boys was at its peak.

Then in a flash, it was all over. The new move that the team learned all morning lasted but a minute. A few minor bobbles and the team pulled off one of its more complicated moves to date.

During the awards ceremony, the Decatur High School Cheer team earned a most-improved high school team award. Meek earned an award for making the All-American Cheer team.

Bulldog fans can expect to see the new moves from the cheer team during the upcoming eight-man football and basketball seasons.

Sports on 07/04/2018