[Lisa Douglas]

Yes. It's called a "handbook"... it's for reading and hopefully comprehending. KAPOS has one... + a National Federation handbook by which to follow. (Each school has it's own handbook as well, but the State does not impede girls from cheering on account of age.) Read it, know it, use it to your advantage...Duh!
Pikeville is good for many reasons & I won't go into all of them, but I am growing sick & tired of hearing and reading about all these folks, who are complaining. If you (your squad or your school's squad(s))want to compete, find out what it takes to be the best, work your tail off, fundraise like no other, sacrifice, and put your squad first... ahead of almost everything in your life, hire (if you can find them) people who would give up their own lives and families needs for you... (oh yeah...that's a real easy one....)
I applaude Pikeville, the administrators (over the years for having the insight to put the right people in the right places and then supporting them and making it happen...) I also applaude a community that has, it seems, many squads and groups all vying for $$ thru contributions and sponsorships.. yet they care enough about these fine young ladies to help them to fundraise and travel to compete for national titles year in and year out. I think... no, I know, it's past time for folks to stop their bellyaching because they aren't committed enough to doing whatever it takes to support their cheer squads...

Pikeville's success doesn't happen with a snap of a finger or a wink in someone's direction... these dedicated people (girls, parents, coaches, administrators, community) put their blood, sweat, and tears into this... they sacrifice more than anyone will ever know to make these squads the best they can be.

It's so easy to get on here and "fire @ will", but really, if you've got the time for this, then you will never be a champion cheerleader, because the time it requires to post is wasted gym time and every good cheer leader knows the value of gym time in Eastern Kentucky... it's scarce as hen's teeth...

I'm not going to apologize for getting on this rant... I hope the cheer leaders representing the 15th region (and really all those who competed in the 15th region) understand that although I used Pikeville as the example for this, I understand and appreciate all their efforts. I also hope to see all of them competing for State & National titles @ the same time too... sometime. If they have never competed for national titles, state titles, and cheered for a team or two during a school year... not to mention trying to keep their grades up while hopefully staying healthy and having all their money turned in for making a trip anywhere, much less than to nationals...they can not even begin to understand the position of some folks @ this time of year... but the celebration after having competed, given your all, and being successful on any of those levels is a wonderful accomplishment... in fact it's downright SWEET. So to those, who always seem to have something derogatory to say, "JUST STOP IT... stop trying to rain on people's paradeS... it's disrespectful and tacky!"