4 hours Ago By Kenny Cress kcress#santamariatimes.com
Enthusiastic elementary school cheer squads members and their supporters packed the Righetti High School gymnasium Saturday for the inaugural Santa Maria-Bonita School District Cheer Fall Showcase. "Oh my gosh, it's incredible," said event organizer Laurie Graack, Santa Maria Bonita School District director of scholastic events as the Cheer Showcase was taking place. "There is an excellent turnout by the teams, the schools, other parents.
It's very exciting." Adam, Alvin, Rice, Miller, Oakley, Sanchez and Tunnell elementary schools had cheer teams in the event. The El Camino Junior High School cheer squad was an enthusiastic event host.
"We spent the last two years really investing in our elementary schools' sports programs," said Graack. "Plus, this is an opportunity to make sure our students have the opportunity to take advantage of all their artistic passions." The Miller cheer squad won the cheer competition at the event.
Shawna Perez and Brandi Ferguson are the squad's coaches. The Oakley cheer squad won the dance portion of the event. The squad's coaches are Alyssa Tognazzini and Madison Penaflor.
Oakley sixth grader Monroe Vazquez won the tuck jump in the individuals competition. Adam third grader Nathaly Sanchez finished second, and Adam fourth grader Julia Avalos Nunez placed third. "I've been in cheer for about a month," Avalos Nunez said before the tuck jump competition started.
"All the people are cheering for us, and it makes me feel so good inside." Adam third grader Alyha Perez won the individual toe touch jump portion of the event. Oakley fourth grader Emma Recendiz finished second, and Rice sixth grader Deisy Diaz Angel finished third.
As is the case with her teammate Avalos Nunez, Adam fifth grader Lyla Moreno said she has been in cheer for a month. "Cheering for our teams is the part I like best," said Moreno. Miller cheer squad members Nayaira Lopez and Zylla Porraz are sixth graders who have both been in cheer for a year.
Lopez is a cheer squad captain. "I love it when we get to go out and support our team," said Lopez. Lopez said the squad cheered at the Miller flag football team's games.
As for Porraz, "My favorite part is, win or lose, we form a tunnel after the game for the players to run through," she said. The Adam cheer squad is 51 members strong. Adam staff member Kali Williams is the squad's coach.
"We have a good group," said Williams as the Adams squad was prepping in the Righetti quad area for the event. "We're focusing on what we've learned, not just for the competition but on what we've been doing together.".
