Braves cheer a spirited bunch

They've got spirit, yes they do, they've got spirit, how about you?

When Hamilton High football fans lend their vocal support to the Braves this season, they will be led by a group of multiple-award winning cheerleaders.

The Hamilton High 2010-11 cheerleaders attended the National Cheerleaders Association Summer Camp, held July 14-16 at Anderson High School, and sis-boom-bah'd their way to a number of impressive awards.

"We went in scared because it was our first time going to camp in awhile," said bubbly freshman Kimmie Oliveira. "A lot of us freshmen were really scared, and some girls were on the squad for the first time."

While the squad may be young, their hard work paid off bigtime.

The cheerleaders brought home the #1 Trophy for Top Game Time Team Award, the Spirit Award, the Herkie #1 Team Award, the Individual Leadership Award, and a bid to attend the National High School Championships.

"We didn't think we were going to get as many awards," beamed Oliveira, but perhaps the best award is still to follow, as the squad was also invited to perform in the Christmas Parade at Disneyworld in December.

"This was the first time in more than six years that Hamilton cheerleaders have gone to summer camp," said Lea Eddy, the squad's coach. "The girls were a little intimidated being it was their first time and all the other teams had squads of 20-30 girls."

"But as time went on they broke out of their shell and were achieving what they had come to do," she added.

The cheer squad consists of Oliveira, Alejandra Ramos, Brenda Ortiz, Fabiola Diaz, Courtney Smith, Jazmin Villa, Kristian Diaz, Kristin Ligas, Nataly Diaz, Nohely Carrillo, Stephanie Ferreira and Yazmin Rosas.

"We put a lot of work into everything, and we're very happy that we got all of this." Oliveira said.

Contact Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.