Copenhagen cheerleaders seek triple crown

COPENHAGEN — One down. Two to go.

The Copenhagen cheerleading squad captured the Frontier League "D" Division title on Saturday to complete phase one in a quest for what it calls the "triple crown." The Golden Knights have claimed league, Section 3 and state Class D championships for each of the last two seasons.

"We call this the triple crown because in our minds they are the three most important competitions for us: league, sectional and state," said Copenhagen cheerleading coach Jennifer Spaulding.

A sectional win this weekend and a victory at CNY Cheer's state competition on Feb. 27 would earn a third triple crown for the Golden Knights. It's the biggest goal they have for the season, according to team member Sarah Woodruff.

"Three years in a row would be pretty awesome," Emily Lance said.

Sectional competition is slated for 11 a.m. Saturday at Utica Proctor. Other Class D competition includes Belleville Henderson, Lyme, Madison, McGraw, Oppenheim-Ephrata, Oriskany and Sackets Harbor.

The Golden Knights' successful history adds a little extra pressure for the team to perform well, but the seniors on the squad, who include Lance, Woodruff, Amberleigh VanEpps and Chelsea Dicob, agreed the pressure serves as a motivating factor.

WARRIORS READY FOR BATTLE

Indian River, the Frontier League "A" Division champ, is also seeking another sectional cheerleading title this weekend. To claim the Class A crown, the Warriors need to outperform teams from Carthage, Mexico, New Hartford, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and Watertown.

Coach Jill Schafer's Indian River squad is composed of just 10 members this season, including a few members who have come up through the Pop Warner program.

"Their routine is executed cleanly and is jam-packed with skills," Spaulding said. "Their team may be a bit smaller than in other years but don't underestimate them. They come to compete and win. They are simply amazing!"

Schafer is in her sixth season coaching basketball cheerleading and helped coach the football cheerleaders the last two seasons with Rebecca Rowley. The Warriors are learning what it takes to win, having earned league and sectional titles during the fall season.

"Cheerleading is all about enthusiasm and spirit," Schafer said. "Without that it doesn't matter how well you dance or how spectacular your stunts are. If you can't sell it with a smile, someone else will."

EVER-EVOLVING SPORT

Cheerleading has evolved into much more than simply promoting spirit at football or boys basketball games.

"High school cheerleading has come a long way," said Schafer, who cheered in high school from 1995-99 and for two years at SUNY Potsdam.

"When I cheered we were excited to get a two-leg extension and now... the flyers (girls in the air) have to be able to do things like pull a heel stretch and twist down from it," Schafer said. "It's crazy! Cheers are different, routines are faster-paced with multiple transitions, formations and things to remember. It's the most chaotic 2 minutes, 30 seconds of their lives."

Spaulding says that cheering at games makes up just 20 percent of what they do. The teams also attend camps and practice for various competitions throughout the year.

"Competitive cheerleading consists of partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, tumbling, dance, motions, genuine spirit and more," said Spaulding who is a former Copenhagen cheerleader and is in her 17th season coaching. "Each aspect has specific training. Great choreography and synchronization are crucial to success."

PAPER PLATE AWARDS

Spending 2-3 hours a day, six days a week, creates a number of special memories for coaches and team members.

Schafer tries to honor each funny moment with a "paper plate award" at the end of the season. For each cheerleader she writes on a paper plate that person's most memorable moment of the season. The moments range from funny things they said, silly things they did, to a heartwarming or caring act someone displayed. But she admits she usually tries to stick to the really funny stuff.

"These have become a classic for our team," Schafer said. "The girls can't wait to find out what their 'award' is for that season."