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Health & Fitness

Tigershark Cheer Advances to Regionals

The Pacifica Tigersharks' Cheer teams competed in the Peninsula Pop Warner Championships on November 9th.

The Tiny Mite team, a non-competitive squad for 5-7 year olds, dazzled the crowd at Santa Clara Convention Center with their stage presence and engaging charisma. The girls rocked a routine that featured tumbling, flexibility, lifting stunts, a lot of attitude and some very loud cheering. They were fierce! Head Coach Giamaica Zeidler and Assistant Coach Mayalani Callaghan taught the girls that they really can do anything as a team.

The Junior Pee Wee team, made up of girls ages 8-12, fought off the strongest and largest field of competitors. Their routine was remarkable for its fast-paced dance moves, tumbling passes and the variety of dynamic and innovative stunts. The girls performed moves at the top of the difficulty scale for their level with apparent ease and displayed their athleticism by successfully executing more stunts than many of their competitors, including a full liberty pyramid. It should be noted that many of the girls on this squad are new to the sport and several are at the younger end of the age range. Their amazing performance was a testament to the dedication and skill of their Head Coach Deirdrah Racine and Assistant Coaches Courtney Fil and Courtney Cunneen. The team finished 2nd in a field of 7 that included perennial powerhouse teams such as Hollister, Mountain View, East Bay, and Gilroy.

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The Tigersharks' Midget team, made up of athletes ages 12-14, turned in an impressive performance. Like their younger teammates, these girls performed a routine that included the most difficult elements allowed at their level in a thrilling, non-stop, 2 and half minute endurance test. In a “go big or go home” effort, the girls carried out effortless barrel rolls, twist up lifts, difficult tumbling passes and unmatched feats of flexibility and balance that took advantage of the skill sets of six different flyers. The performance was enhanced by the crisp precision of movement, straight lines, and impeccable timing of the dance and cheer sequences - which are as important to the final score as any of the athletic elements. By the time most teams reach Midget level, they have all cheered together for several years, but out of the 12 girls on the Tigersharks squad, 5 have never cheered before. The high level of execution the team displayed is a reflection of the enthusiasm and tenacity of their Head Coach Chelsea Rutledge, Assistant Coach Jayme Ng and Athletic Director Nicole Mercurio. The girls finished a strong 2nd in a field of 5.

Both the Junior Pee Wee and the Midget teams are advancing to the Regional Championships on November 29th, where they will compete against teams from the entire Pacific Northwest, Alaska through Nevada, vying for a coveted berth to the National Championships in Orlando, FL. The girls have excellent chances of earning those slots again this year, but with that opportunity comes the responsibility of raising $24,000 before the first week of December.

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The Truth, Pacifica's local tattoo and piercing art studio, is hosting THANKFEST on Saturday, November 30th to benefit the Tigersharks' Travel Fund. This awesome event includes musical performances starting at 4pm, with our local Haunted by Heroes performing at 6pm. An all-day attractions bracelet will be $5 to include a rock climbing wall, zorbs, slack lines, a bouncy house, and a basketball tournament. Peter Bogdanov will be doing a Live Painting. There will be a Silent Auction and $100 Tattoos. There will also be an amazing taco bar for an additional $5. Beer and Wine will be for sale. You will be able to see the girls perform at 3pm, in case you missed them at Tigersharks' home games.  If you want to help send these girls to Florida, this would be a great and exciting way for you and your family to do so.

If you would like to contribute but won’t be able to make it to the event, you can donate to the travel fund online via paypal@pacificatigersharks.com. Contributions of any size are welcome; all are tax deductible.

Go Tigersharks!

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