Pop Warner cheerleaders earn top recognition

Mike Sciacca

One month after claiming first place at the Orange Empire Conference

Regional Cheerleading Championships, the Huntington Beach Pop Warner

Football Midget Division cheerleaders captured first place at the Pacific

Southwest National Spirit Competition held last weekend in San Diego.

More than 75 Pop Warner Football cheer squads competed at the national

event, ranging in age from 11 to 15, and came from throughout Southern

California and Hawaii.

It is the second consecutive year that the Midget cheer squad has

competed at nationals. Last year they earned a fourth place finish in a

competition held in Maui.

Huntington Beach beat out 23 other Midget Division cheer teams to earn

the championship.

“This is my 10th year of coaching Pop Warner cheer and I have never

been prouder,” said Amy Genelle, head coach of the squad.The Midget

Division cheer team was one of three Huntington Beach squads to compete

at the national competition. Also invited to participate were the Jr. Pee

Wee Division Gold Chargers and the Pee Wee Green Chargers.

Members of the Huntington Beach Pop Warner Midget Chargers cheer team

include Lauren Baldwin, Darlene Ballesteros, Katelyn Cotta, Krystin

Baldwin, Aubrey Halman, Mallory Richards, Irene Ballesteros, Molly

Gonzales, Natascha Petrarca, Jenna Butlett, Kelly Baker, Nicole Beck,

Alida Nimmo, Valerie Boardman, Britni Athey, Taylor Burkhardt, Danielle

Bliss, Kayleen Enoka, Kaitlin Brink, Melissa Florence, Nicki Adams, Stacy

Arand, Maddy Farinella, Caitlin Avery, Holly Smith, Kelly Wolf, Jessica

Coachems, Amanda Gross, Jessica Milano, Nicole Gottesman, Lexy Turner,

Annie Gilbertson, Nicole Pena, Madison Overcast, Jennifer Grey, Ashley

Edwards, Brittany Masanovich and assistant coaches Dayna Villegas,

Lindsay Moss and Natalie Elliot.