Sunday, October 22, 2000
Mohawk cheerleaders heading to Cirtus Bowl
By Cathy Willoughby
Staff Writer
Local bowl game viewers on New Year's Day should pay more attention to the half-time show this year.
Mohawk High School cheerleaders, seniors Ashley Kelbley and Nicole Clouse and junior Raechel Margraf, will be on the field, part of a dance routine at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
The three young women are busy raising money for their trip; they need $849 each for motel, food and transportation costs. And they are eager to start practicing for their television debut.
They learned of the opportunity to attend a national bowl game during one of the cheerleading camps they attended in the summer. "They have a try out where you have to cheer, do chants and jumps,'' Clouse said. "If they pick you, they send you information about it. We decided we would go since two of us are seniors. Once you are picked, you can go to any of the bowls.''
A tape of the dance and the steps they need to know will be sent to them to allow them to practice. "When we get there, we will practice with everybody,'' Clouse explained. "And they will let us know where to go on the football field. There will be more than 80,000 spectators and it will be on TV.''
Besides the performance, the Citrus Bowl organizers arrange activities for the young participants to make their stay a memorable one. "We will go to a New Year's party, to Universal Studios and MGM, Epcot, all the Disney properties,'' Clouse said. "And we will be in a parade at a Disney park. Everything is planned for us; we only practice two hours a day for the dance.''
Even though the latest fundraiser, a spaghetti dinner, netted $500, they are still seeking donations. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Mohawk High School.
"I'm just excited about being able to meet the people,'' Margraf said. "To meet people from all over the country that are your age, and that like the same things that you do. With things like the New Year's Eve party, it seems like everything is planned for us. It seems like a good time.''