Updated at 9:12 p.m., Sunday, February 11, 2007
Kamehameha wins national cheerleading crown
Advertiser Staff
Driven by a runner-up finish in the state tournament, Kamehameha captured the National High School Cheerleading Championship yesterday at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.The Warriors scored 713 points to win the small varsity division — for squads with 12 or fewer members — by 19.5 points over runner-up Hazel Green High School. There were 56 schools in the division.
Kamehameha also won the national title in 2003 and 2004, but an accident during the competition hurt its chances in 2005 and in 2006. "We didn't perform very well," said coach Melissa Beimes.
"This year when we went to states, we placed second — and that's the first time we didn't win (since the meet began in 2002)," Beimes said. "They just really fought back (for the nationals) and knew they wanted to hit their routines. ... The judges just liked our style."
Hamilton High placed third with 683 points, and Madison Central High fourth with 662.5.
