Gavin St Onge gives Mica Shipley a boost during a cheer camp in Tacoma. (BreAnna Boon photos)
Emily Fiedler celebrates after she, Ja’Tarya Hoskins (left), and Melia Welling (right) teamed up to win a “strongest women” competition.
St Onge, a first-year cheerleader, earned All-American status.
Ashleigh Battaglia soars above the field.
Small town, big awards for the high-flying Wolf cheerleaders.
“We’re a little town, but we’re strong.”
Living up to their new team motto, a group of Coupeville High School cheerleaders endured 90-degree heat to emerge as big winners from a four-day summer camp.
The biggest highlight might have been the most unexpected, as a first-year Wolf cheerleader claimed All-American status.
That was transplanted football lineman Gavin St Onge, who showed off big-time moves in cheer, jump, and stunting skills.
His older sister, Ciera, is a former Wolf cheer superstar, and the biggest member of the current CHS squad impressed everyone gathered at the University of Puget Sound.
“Gavin was the hit of the camp,” said Coupeville coach BreAnna Boon. “Small town boy with big muscles!”
The Wolves also claimed first-place in the camp’s “strongest women” competition, with Ja’Tarya Hoskins, Melia Welling, and Emily Fiedler teaming up to bring home the trophy.
The trio faced off with 20+ other schools to see who could hold a stunt for the longest amount of time.
The Wolves had to do squats, turns, and tricks, all while holding Fiedler in the air, and outlasted the field.
“After almost five minutes of pure torture, team after team dropped to the ground, and our Wolves came out on top!!,” said a very-proud Boon.
Coupeville added a fifth-place in jump, thanks to Ashleigh Battaglia, and a pair of thirds in team competitions on the final day.
Performing in front of a packed audience, the Wolves threw down “rally” and “game day” routines.
The first event includes a dance and a stunt, while the second encompasses band dance, sideline, and cheer.
Boon, entering her second season at the helm of the CHS cheer program, had 10 athletes accompany her to camp.
Hoskins, Battaglia, Fiedler, St Onge, and Welling were joined by Kim Castro, Coral Caveness, Mica Shipley, and incoming freshmen Karyme Castro and Lucy Crouch.
The group went from 8 AM to 8:30 PM daily during the camp, and were taught dances, cheers, and stunts.
Coupeville performed and was evaluated by camp administrators at the end of each session, then went in front of all the other cheerleaders, coaches and parents on the final day.
Despite the heat and the non-stop work, the Wolves held up well, earning a superior ribbon each night, as well as ownership of the spirit stick.
“The days were grueling and long hours, and there were times we didn’t think we were gonna make it out alive,” Boon said.
But her cheerleaders responded, not only showcasing their skills, but making friends along the way.
“We actually bonded with a squad from Kalama and had a pizza party with them on the last night!,” Boon said. “Our goal as cheerleaders is to bond teams together, and even though Kalama may become a rival one day, we are happy to call them our friends.”
And, circling back to the new team motto, Coupeville continually impressed the judges with how strong its small squad is, especially for a program which just got back into competition cheer last year.
“The UCA staff was amazed at the stunting skill level this small but mighty team had,” Boon said. “They are such talented, strong kids individually, so when you put that all together to make one team, the outcome is like something you have never seen before.
“This is the team that is destined for greatness,” she added. “Through their blood sweat and tears, they thrive.”
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