Cheerleaders learn more than just chants
, Community Editor
12-12-2008
The Ennis Youth Cheerleading Association transformed the Ennis High School gym into a pep rally complete with spirit signs as members wrapped up their end of the year ceremony with awards before Shannon Eddins delivered a poignant and motivational speech.
Eddins has been involved in the cheerleading industry for more than 20 years and offered sage advice to the girls who participated in the cheerleading association. “To be a real cheerleader, for a team or in life, you have to have heart,” she said. “Besides having the heart for what you do there are also three other things that a good cheerleader has; passion, character and love.”
She explained that a cheerleader has to have passion for what they are doing and character will help them make good decisions when no one else is looking and love will help them get along with their teammates, as well as the teams they are cheering for and the fans.
Her advice to the girls was to be mindful of all of the items they needed to help them prepare for the event, but that nothing in their bags would help them jump any higher or stick their landings besides training and effort.
Eddins is currently the choir director for Ennis High School and Ennis Junior High and has had many opportunities afforded to her due to her involvement in the cheerleading industry. Eddins started out cheering in junior high and high school before moving on to competitive squads in college. She worked with the National Cheerleading Association, teaching cheerleading camps throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kansas. She earned the top stunt title while at Baylor University and began teaching college cheer camps. She then became a head instructor for the NCA and went on to judge competitions on a national level. She earned the title of America’s Number One Cheerleader, which afforded her a $10,000 educational scholarship. With the title, she appeared on local, national and international television shows like “Music City Tonight with Crook and Chase,” “ESPN II-the deuce,” “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee” and “Inside Edition.”
Eddins has coached at private schools, public schools and All-Star gyms and has most recently accepted the position of cheerleading commissioner with the UPWARDS Cheerleading program that is beginning in Ennis this week.
The competition saw teams from the Flag and C divisions (ages 4-6) competing against each other and the B and A divisions (ages 7-12) competing against one other for recognition in the following categories: Most Spirited, Most Volume, Best Chorography, Best Motions, Best Stunt, Best Jumps, and Most Energy.
Thanks to the EYCA board and coaches for their dedication to the girls and the program. Each member of this committee has spent countless hours behind the scenes doing things to improve EYCA. The association met their goals of improving communication within the association as well as with the ECYFL and to create a Web site that provides up-to-date information and forms for upcoming years.
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