Young cheerleaders spent the past two days dancing, stunting and tumbling at Plant City High School.
The school hosted its annual cheer clinic on Tuesday, July 12 and Wednesday, July 13. Run by head coach Karen Snapp, the clinic gets the high school's cheerleaders on the floor as instructors and shows the younger girls what it takes to represent the Raiders.
HEAR FROM THE CHEERLEADERS
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What do you like about this camp?
It's really fun.
What's your favorite thing about being a cheerleader?
Stunts and tumbling.
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What made you want to be a cheerleader?
Tumbling.
What's the coolest thing you can do on the mat?
A front roll.
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What keeps you coming back to this camp every year?
It's just really fun. I like learning new things.
What are some of your favorite things that you've learned out here?
The new stunts, a higher level than what I've been doing normally.
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What's your favorite thing about helping out at the camps?
Teaching (campers) new things. They come and they're so excited to learn about the new cheers and stunts. They look up to us as role models. I think that's really good. I love it.
You've been here four years. What's your favorite memory from one of these camps?
I love doing the dances. Every year, we come up with really cute dances. The girls always come out and show so much spirit. That's really nice to look at.
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What's the coolest thing about working with these girls?
It's really cool to see how excited they are about cheerleading, and how happy they are to learn new things and be with the older girls.
Were you ever one of these girls, going to cheer camps all the time?
I was not. I started my cheer career kind of later, but I really enjoy helping. I wish I had this opportunity.
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What's the funniest thing that's happened at one of these camps?
Actually, probably the funniest moment was yesterday (Tuesday). A little girl was crying her eyes out and I was like, "What's wrong? Are you OK?" She said, "I'm just so hungry." I said, "Well, is your stomach eating itself? Is it way too hungry?" She said, "Actually, it just wants to eat you." That just made me laugh really hard, when she told me that.
When you're out here with the kids, what's the most important thing you try to teach them?
Probably to always have an uplifting spirit and be really happy, excited all the time. We just try to keep the energy going.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.