SQUADS SIZZLE AT POP WARNER CHEER & DANCE 2004 !

It's easy for fans of Cheer and Dance at the Pop Warmer National Championships to see that every squad at Disney Wide World of Sports has a special sizzle. And that's part of the fun of anticipating how each group will perform when it comes around to their share of the competition spotlight.

Want some idea of what Pop Warner Cheer" special sizzle's" all about? Well, just take a look at the Sparks Cardinals from Nevada, a Pee Wee Small Cheer powerhouse from the Pacific Northwest Region. With 5 new comers and 4 returning veterans, the Cardinals have overcome some real obstacles over the last few months. Brand new to the sport, so new in fact that they had never even seen cheering on ESPN before, the Sparks Cardinals entered the "Novice" competition this season and quickly started to learn.

Asst. Coach Erica Murphy told us," Our big thing is that we just wanted to make it to Florida . We are here to have a good time. Our girls have never cheered before, never been to Nationals. For them to come this far is amazing." From learning tumbles, to liberties, to stunts, these girls have worked hard all season, and are now anxious to compete on Thursday at The Milk House.

When asked what did it took to get them here, Cardinals Assistant Coach-Erica Murphy said, "Well, we've had a lot to overcome as a team and there were struggles along the way." But, as proven by the Cardinals being here at Disney, success prevails for those who work hard. Like other squads in the National competition, the Cardinals faced the 2004 season with new teammates and changing numbers. But, as Coach Erica told us,

"The girls on our team bring with them the confidence of beating everyday challenges." And, those challenges are not simply learning new cheer routines. With squad members who've overcome issues of vision, memory loss, attention deficit disorder, asthma conditions and some other limitations challenges, the Sparks Cardinals have shown their ability to gel as a disciplined unit, a unit with its own special sizzle. Coach Erica adds,

"Our girls really support each other a lot and have created a family with one another that endures through the good and bad times."

Along with many on her Sparks Cardinal squad, it's been a championship season of "firsts" for Head Coach Julie Logue. Not only did she ride a plane down to Florida (one of her greatest fears) , Coach Julie also made a bet with her girls that if they made it to Pop Warner Nationals she would dare to join her squad for a ride on Disney's popular white-knuckle " Tower of Terror " experience at MGM Studios. So, this Friday, as the girls get excited for Pop's MGM Party, Coach Julie knows she will make good on her end of the bargain, getting in line and riding up 13 stories to the top of the Tower for a pitch black drop of pure excitement! And, it's all for a good cause...teamwork! "We've done so much together this year,that this experience won't be any different." All weeklong at Disney Wide World of Sports, you'll find Pop Warner Cheer and Dance squads like the Sparks Cardinal Pee Wee's with a reason to be proud. They've worked hard to create a team spirit and a "special sizzle" that will last for life!

Story by Erin Katherine Sykes