April 23, 2019 at 12:52AM
The Valley Emeralds FAME All-Stars junior cheer team practiced Wednesday, April 17, in preparation for the The Summit competition at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World. (Photo: Kirsta Smith/Submitted)
STAUNTON - Zoe Mader was in her bedroom on Monday night, April 15, when she realized it was almost time for the bids to be revealed for this year's Summit cheer championships.
She turned on her computer and watched the bids scroll across the screen. And when she saw "FAME All Stars — Valley Emeralds" pop up on her screen, Mader let out a scream.
"I didn't believe it," said the 14-year-old Stuarts Draft girl. "I was really excited."
Mader is part of the 18-member junior cheer team that earned a bid to The Summit event the first weekend of May at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida's Walt Disney World.
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"It's basically the Olympics for cheerleading," said Kristen Shreckhise, owner and coach at FAME Valley All-Stars in Staunton. Quinn Emery helps her coach the team.
The team, made up of girls between 8 and 15 years old, earned an at-large bid based on its score at a competition in Myrtle Beach. That was one of six competitions the team had this season throughout the country. They are currently raising money to help with the expense of the trip.
"It's something these girls have been working for, some of them for seven, eight years," Shreckhise said. "This is a lifetime opportunity."
Mader has been cheering since she was 5. Next year, which will be her freshman year at Stuarts Draft High School, she hopes to make the school's varsity competition cheer team. The Draft cheer team is the two-time defending state champs.
"It's my dream to go to Summit," said Mader, a side base on the Emeralds who also does some tumbling during the routines. "That it's finally happening is really awesome."
Jorja Catlett is one of the younger members of the team. The 8-year-old has been cheering for four years and she's a flyer on the Emeralds. During the stunts, she's one of the cheerleaders who is lifted into the air.
"They have a big risk because they're up in the air above three other athletes and they're asking them to trust them to keep them in the air," Shreckhise said.
Catlett just turned 8 on April 14, so the trip to Disney is also a birthday present for her.
"I'm very excited," she said.
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Shreckhise's gym had a senior team compete at The Summit last year, but this is the first time for this junior team to compete at Disney.
The team is scheduled to compete in the semifinals of the event Saturday, May 4, at 8:36 p.m. If they advance, the team will be in the finals on Sunday, May 5. The team is scheduled to arrive on Friday, May 3, and will have some time to explore the Walt Disney World theme parks before competing.
"It's absolutely awesome," Shreckhise said. "You go through emotions all season, ups and downs, the tears, the happiness, the bonding we do. We call ourselves family here. So it's very elating when we get to this point, and very shocking."
The event will be available to stream on tv.varsity.com.
Fame Valley Emeralds
Tarynn Morris
Star LeCue
Mackenzie Campbell
Meredith Jones
Payton Miller
McKenna Kegley
Kaitlyn Snead
Riece Hogge
Mary Smith
Lainey Collins
Madison Bowyer
Hailey Hummel
Lilliana Hernandez
Jennifer Collins
Zoë Mader
Sara Bennett
Jorja Catlett
Madison Tusing
Coaches - Kristen Shreckhise and Quinn Emery
Follow Patrick on Twitter @Patrick_Hite
Support community journalism by subscribing to The News Leader
The Valley Emeralds FAME All-Stars junior cheer team practiced Wednesday, April 17, in preparation for the The Summit competition at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World. (Photo: Kirsta Smith/Submitted)
STAUNTON - Zoe Mader was in her bedroom on Monday night, April 15, when she realized it was almost time for the bids to be revealed for this year's Summit cheer championships.
She turned on her computer and watched the bids scroll across the screen. And when she saw "FAME All Stars — Valley Emeralds" pop up on her screen, Mader let out a scream.
"I didn't believe it," said the 14-year-old Stuarts Draft girl. "I was really excited."
Mader is part of the 18-member junior cheer team that earned a bid to The Summit event the first weekend of May at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida's Walt Disney World.
Support local journalism by subscribing to The News Leader
"It's basically the Olympics for cheerleading," said Kristen Shreckhise, owner and coach at FAME Valley All-Stars in Staunton. Quinn Emery helps her coach the team.
The team, made up of girls between 8 and 15 years old, earned an at-large bid based on its score at a competition in Myrtle Beach. That was one of six competitions the team had this season throughout the country. They are currently raising money to help with the expense of the trip.
"It's something these girls have been working for, some of them for seven, eight years," Shreckhise said. "This is a lifetime opportunity."
Mader has been cheering since she was 5. Next year, which will be her freshman year at Stuarts Draft High School, she hopes to make the school's varsity competition cheer team. The Draft cheer team is the two-time defending state champs.
"It's my dream to go to Summit," said Mader, a side base on the Emeralds who also does some tumbling during the routines. "That it's finally happening is really awesome."
Jorja Catlett is one of the younger members of the team. The 8-year-old has been cheering for four years and she's a flyer on the Emeralds. During the stunts, she's one of the cheerleaders who is lifted into the air.
"They have a big risk because they're up in the air above three other athletes and they're asking them to trust them to keep them in the air," Shreckhise said.
Catlett just turned 8 on April 14, so the trip to Disney is also a birthday present for her.
"I'm very excited," she said.
People are reading: Staunton's Young Hardware for sale after 65 years of business
People are reading: Neighbors worry about the future of their natural spring
Shreckhise's gym had a senior team compete at The Summit last year, but this is the first time for this junior team to compete at Disney.
The team is scheduled to compete in the semifinals of the event Saturday, May 4, at 8:36 p.m. If they advance, the team will be in the finals on Sunday, May 5. The team is scheduled to arrive on Friday, May 3, and will have some time to explore the Walt Disney World theme parks before competing.
"It's absolutely awesome," Shreckhise said. "You go through emotions all season, ups and downs, the tears, the happiness, the bonding we do. We call ourselves family here. So it's very elating when we get to this point, and very shocking."
The event will be available to stream on tv.varsity.com.
Fame Valley Emeralds
Tarynn Morris
Star LeCue
Mackenzie Campbell
Meredith Jones
Payton Miller
McKenna Kegley
Kaitlyn Snead
Riece Hogge
Mary Smith
Lainey Collins
Madison Bowyer
Hailey Hummel
Lilliana Hernandez
Jennifer Collins
Zoë Mader
Sara Bennett
Jorja Catlett
Madison Tusing
Coaches - Kristen Shreckhise and Quinn Emery
Follow Patrick on Twitter @Patrick_Hite
Support community journalism by subscribing to The News Leader
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