Each month we will highlight a collegiate spirit team in action on the fields and in the classroom.  Please take the time to read a little about the University and learn how Athletics and Academics go hand in hand for college athletes too.  If you would like to send a note in response to a write-up, please forward your feedback to spirit@popwarner.com.

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TEAM NAME:	Ohio State University All-Girl Cheerleading
HEAD COACH:	Joey Delaney

The Challenge is Not to Perform Perfect, But to Practice Perfection!

Ask any member of The Ohio State All Girl Cheer Team what is the program's motto and they will tell you exactly that. Founded by head coach Joey Delaney in the 1998-1999 season, the team has grown over the past 10 years into a nationally ranked competitive program. Their success is built on the solid idea that you must PRACTICE perfection to achieve it in performance.

This idea extends to the incredible dedication and hard work the athletes put into school, cheering and their daily lives. There is no one part of life that is not connected to the others. Learning to practice, work, study and live with a purpose of doing it the right way, 100% effort and with commitment to success is a perfect beginning to achieving whatever outcome you choose.

The All Girl Cheer Team is a competition program only. The team performs at various local events and competes at a variety of regional and national competitions including the NCA National College Cheer and Dance Championships. Last year's 2008 team finished as the National Runner Up....only three hundredths of a point away from capturing the title. When asked about the incredible finish, coach Delaney commented, "Practice Perfection".

Our program is always looking to recruit talented cheerleaders to be a part of our family. However, skill is not the only component of an interested applicant. If you are thinking about cheering for our team or in college anywhere, you must be a good student first. Getting admitted to the school of your choice is your first responsibility. Apply that same desire for perfection in cheerleading to perfection in the classroom. Good grades, diversity and community involvement are the keys to opening doors to your future in cheerleading and life.

Congratulations to all of you who have chosen to be involved in Pop Warner cheerleading as athletes or volunteers. Our team wishes you the best of luck with your seasons and perhaps one day you will be a part of our family here at Ohio State University. Go Buckeyes!

Visit our website for more information about the program: www.osuagc.com or email us at: osuagct@aol.com

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The Harvard cheerleading team is a small co-ed team comprised of 16-20 male and female athletes. The team performs at all home and away Football games, all home men's and women's basketball games, and all post season NCAA Basketball tournament games. Harvard University is a member of the Ivy League and is consistently one of the top football programs in the league, meaning we have a lot to cheer for! Aside from our game day duties, the team also competes at local, regional and national competitions. 

The cheerleaders practice three times a week, including one strength training practice, in order to perfect their skills and performance level for games, but we also work hard choreographing our routine for competition season which starts in the Spring. This past year was our first time competing and the Squad took home two first place finishes and a Grand Champion title! We are hoping to earn a bid to NCA College Nationals this coming spring and be the first squad in Harvard's history to compete at Nationals!

Harvard University presents an interesting dynamic for college cheerleaders due to the rigorous academic program at this Ivy League institution. Not only do they have to work hard in the gym and dedicate time and energy to the success of the cheerleading program, they also have to maintain top marks in the classroom at the top academic program in the country. This is no easy feat, but the athletes that comprise the Harvard Cheerleading team find a way to balance their academic schedule with their duties and responsibilities as members of the Cheer squad, and in the end I believe they learn many lessons that other student athletes may not attain.
 
Ivy League institutions do not give athletic based scholarships, therefore as a coach I do not have any pull within admissions to help potential students earn admission. It can be frustrating because some very talented athletes contact me and want to be involved in the program, but there is nothing I can do to help them with admissions. The advice that I give to athletes that contact me in hopes of one day becoming part of our program is to work hard in school to get top grades, stay involved in the community both within school and outside of school, and keep your background interesting and diverse (meaning get involved!) Harvard is always looking for something that makes someone stand out, so I encourage young athletes to use their motivation and determination they gain in cheerleading and apply it to all facets of their lives!
 
Cheering at Harvard is a tremendous opportunity for students here as it gives them a chance to enjoy an exciting and competitive activity outside of the classroom. My cheerleaders constantly express that cheering gives them an outlet and is the part of their day they look forward to the most. There can be stressful times where team members need to balance studying for major exams with mandatory practices and games, but they learn to find a way to balance and prioritize their responsibilities and in doing so learn valuable lessons they can bring with them after graduation. Additionally, cheering allows team members to be visible within the campus community and still gives them an opportunity for competitive activity and these rewards make all the hard work and sacrifice well worth it!
 
In short, cheerleading at the top academic institution in the country can be rigorous, demanding, and hard work. However, my athletes are able to experience cheerleading at the top Division 1 Collegiate level, including NCAA tournament games and National Competitions, and in the end they earn a degree from the best academic program in the country. No other college cheerleading program in the county can boast that reward!

RESPONSES:

NATIONAL POP WARNER THANKS COACH CAPASSO FOR SHARING HER TEAM’S STORY WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS.  YOUR CHEER PROGRAM INSPIRES US AND WE HOPE YOUR STORY WILL HELP OUR KIDS TO WORK HARD IN SCHOOL SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN CHEER AND DANCE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE! 

Thanks for taking the time to bring your program to our teams!

Visit the Harvard Cheerleading Team Website

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The Crimson Dance Team was established in the spring of 1995 to provide Harvard dancers with the opportunity to practice and perform at a consistently intense level. The team is considered a club sport, currently made up of 16 female dancers. The group's dance style combines elements of jazz, ballet, funk, and hip hop, and is athletically demanding, incorporating leaps and pirouettes (and occasionally some gymnastics) into the routines. This is the only dance group on campus that performs and competes at both the regional and national levels. Every year we attend the National Dance Alliance (NDA) Collegiate Championship, held during spring break in Daytona Beach, Florida and televised on Fox Sports Network. Most recently, the team came in 5th place during this spring’s national competition.

The Crimson Dance Team performs during half time at all men and women's home basketball games. We also can be seen performing at the annual Arts First Dance Festival, in our own Spring Show, and in guest appearances at various Harvard events which include a cappella jams, theater productions, and dance concerts. 

Dancing at Harvard is definitely a challenge considering the high level of intensity not only of the sport, but of the school as well. However, it is probably one of the greatest experiences here! It is so awesome to have 15 other girls who are your best friends here and can support you through the good and the bad in college. Especially for so many of us who are miles away from home, having this sort of athletic and social outlet makes the transition to college so much easier and fun!

RESPONSES:

NATIONAL POP WARNER SENDS A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO HARD WORKING DANCE CAPTAIN, DANIELLA URBINA FOR SHARING HER STORY! WE HOPE YOUR TEAM HAS A SUCCESSFUL SEASON, AND OUR DANCERS WILL BE PLEASED TO SEE WHAT CAN BE IN THEIR FUTURE TOO IF THEY WORK HARD IN SCHOOL.  THANKS FOR BEING A STRONG LEADER AND INSPIRATION TO OUR KIDS,  THANK YOU!

Visit the Harvard Dance Team Website