Pace High cheerleaders 'get their banana'

By Rene David Basulto - Monsignor Edward Pace HS

MIAMI GARDENS | The award-winning cheerleading squad at Msgr. Edward Pace High School has another set of trophies to add to its mantle after placing first at the Universal Cheerleaders Association Camp Championship, held at Nova Southeastern University July 22-25.

The Pace team competed among 11 other South Florida high schools and also won the Overall Spirit and Leadership awards.

The Spartan cheerleaders spent several weeks training inside the Pace Spartan Center, laying out mats across the entire floor to practice their routines and hone their tumbling, aerials, dismounts, and other techniques.

Thirty Spartan cheerleaders, led by coaches Victoria Marino, a Pace class of 2013 alumna, and Chelsea Zeigler, Pace class of 2011, traveled to Nova for the four-day camp, staying overnight in the Leo Goodwin Sr. Residence Hall.

Participating in the camp’s advanced program, the Pace squad focused on improving their stunt skills and practicing different routines. All of their efforts paid off in their final performance, where they were ranked the highest out of all the squads by UCA college professionals, taking home the first place trophy.

On top of the judges’ award, the Spartan cheerleaders received the camp’s leadership award - voted on by the other squads and coaches - for showcasing the best leadership and cheerleader qualities of respect, treatment of others and teamwork.

But the Spartan cheerleaders were most excited to win, of all things, a giant inflatable banana. The banana is the Overall Spirit award given out by the UCA, and it was something the Spartan cheerleaders had been trying to win for years. They had even gone as far as bringing signs to the camp’s opening ceremonies referencing it. This year, they finally got “their banana” to top off the rest of their awards.