[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2389-2390]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               NORTH LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER TEAM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize a group of young ladies who have found great success in their 
athletic endeavors on the national and international level. The North 
Laurel High School cheerleaders have represented their county and the 
Commonwealth of Kentucky well with their hard work, skill, and success. 
On February 10, the North Laurel High School cheerleaders won both the 
World School and International Cup at UCA Nationals in Orlando, FL.
  The cheerleading squad from North Laurel High School not only 
reclaimed the title of first place in World School at the UCA, 
Universal Cheerleaders Association, Nationals in Orlando, but they went 
on to become champions of the International Cup, beating out teams from 
Canada, Ecuador, and China. They also went on to win first place in the 
medium 2A Division representing the 13th Region at the 2013 KHSAA, 
Kentucky High School Athletic Association, Competitive Cheer State 
Championship held in Bowling Green, KY on February 23. Team members 
Autumn Asher, Madison Asher, Machenzie Burns, Raye Lynn Campbell, 
Taylor Crockett, Channing Ely, Emily Evans, Katlyn Helton, Malari 
Hoskins, Sara Kaminsky, Peyton Lankford, Katie Mays, Tara McClure, 
Aubree Oakley, Katelyn Sharp, MaKayla Vaughn, Mary Kate Whitfield, and 
Maddie Wood as well as coaches Kimberly B. Wood, Toni Blake Greer, and 
Jomo K. Thompson saw their dedication and hours of practice pay off 
with victory. Truly, their efforts reflect well on their community, and 
they represent to competitors all over the world the unbridled spirit 
of Kentuckians.
  At this time, I would like to publicly declare Kentucky's 
appreciation for this team, their coaches, and their parents who have 
received well-deserved recognition and success for their commitments 
and practice. The North Laurel High School cheerleaders have 
represented Kentucky well, and we are both grateful and proud. I would 
ask my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to join me in acknowledging their 
achievements, and I ask unanimous consent that an article detailing 
their success from the Laurel County-area publication the Sentinel Echo 
be printed in the Record.

[[Page 2390]]

  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record as follows:

                [From the Sentinel Echo, Feb. 14, 2013]

              NLHS, E.B. Cheer Teams Win Big at Nationals

       Laurel County, Ky.--Laurel County cheer teams received high 
     honors at the UCA Nationals in Orlando, Fla., this weekend.
       The North Laurel High School team earned first place in the 
     medium varsity division, as well as being named the first-
     place winners in world school and international cup 
     competitions.
       This was the first time the team has won first place at 
     nationals since 2009.
       ``We have a very young squad,'' said Kim Wood, coach. ``Our 
     goal going into this was to hit a solid routine. We told the 
     girls to focus just on us, not the other teams, and doing the 
     absolute best we could do.''
       Although the team won first in world school last year, this 
     was the first year they were named as champions of the 
     international cup against teams from Canada, China, and 
     Ecuador.
       The outcome was a wonderful surprise, she said.
       ``It was our best performance at national level. It was 
     pretty perfect in our eyes,'' Wood continued. ``The awards 
     were the icing on the cake.''
       It was ninth-grader Taylor Crockett's first high-school 
     nationals. Crockett has competed in cheerleading since the 
     sixth grade.
       ``It took a lot of hard work. At the beginning of the year, 
     we really didn't know each other,'' she said. ``We just 
     started bonding as a team. That bond helped us.''
       Senior MaKayla Vaughn said this year was both ``amazing'' 
     and ``bittersweet'' because it will be her last.
       During competition, Vaughn said the team helped to keep 
     each other calm, encouraging and supporting one another.
       ``We were the first team to go on,'' she said. ``We told 
     each other to set the bar high.''
       The East Bernstadt Tumble Cats also took home a big win 
     this weekend at UCA Nationals.
       The Tumble Cats won first place in the youth rec, or 
     elementary, division against seven other teams.
       In January, the Tumble Cats were named the elementary state 
     champions for the second year in a row at the Kentucky Middle 
     School State competition in Richmond.
       The elementary team was formed just three years ago.
       ``They've gotten progressively better over time,'' said 
     Coach Cristin Adams. ``They worked really hard this year. 
     These kids and their parents are very dedicated.''
       This was the first year Adams and Coach Darrin Spencer took 
     the team, comprised of first- to fourth-graders, to UCA 
     Nationals.
       ``We (she and Spencer) saw the potential of this team. Our 
     goal was to make the top 3 (at nationals). We exceeded that 
     and got first place.''
       Prior to competition, even making the top 3 looked to be a 
     big feat.
       ``One week before we left (for nationals), we had two girls 
     break their fingers,'' Adams said. ``We had to rework our 
     routine, and that's not easy, especially at this age, but we 
     hit the routine solid.''
       The team trains at Damar Gymnastics in Lily, who 
     choreographed their routine.
       ``Gymnastics is where the foundation starts,'' Adams said. 
     ``Technique is very important.''
       The majority of the 20-member team are third-graders, and 
     most, Adams said, have been on the team for three years.
       ``Starting young helps feed into the older teams,'' she 
     said. ``And we want to be a good feeder program for North 
     Laurel Middle and North Laurel High schools.''
       The North Laurel Middle School cheerleading team took 
     second place in their division at UCA nationals.
       NLMS team coaches include Katie Sizemore, Paula Crawford, 
     and Susan Tolliver.
       NLHS team coaches include Wood, Toni Blake Greer, and Jomo 
     Thompson, who is also the University of Kentucky head 
     cheerleading coach.

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