Colony cheer squad competes in national event

The Colony Knight varsity football cheerleading squad recently competed in the National Cheerleading Association Championships in Dallas.

The Knight cheer squad placed 15th in the competition. Colony competed in the medium varsity class, which is for squads with 12 to 15 cheerleaders.

Forty-four teams competed in the medium class.

Colony advanced to the final round after placing 18th during the semifinal competition. The top 24 teams made it to the finals.

"We did really well," head coach Kristy Johnston said of her team's performance. "They were all really sick or we could have placed a little higher. As far as the competition and our level of skill, we did very well.

"My husband and I were both very proud of them. They were intimidated after seeing some of the other squads before they went out on the floor."

In order to compete in the championships, a squad has to receive a bid. A bid can be earned from either NCA sanctioned camps or competitions.

The Knights actually earned to bids to the championships, with one coming from the performance at the Alaska state championships and another from a camp the team attended.

In November, Colony earned its sixth consecutive state championship and its third under the tuteledge of Johnston.

The championships were one of two competitions the Knights participated in. The lone scored event in Alaska is the state championships.

According to Johnston, the squad, with the help of a parent support group, did all the fund raising necessary to pay for the trip to Dallas.

"We have a good parent support group," Johnston said. "They give out their time to help us out. We also have a strong backing from Mike Boyd and Randy Merrill."