The Mustangs and their coaches display the first-place trophy they won at the Reno Events Center. From left to right- Coach Kelli Anderson, Isabelle Anderson, 11, Lluvia (Minnie) Hernandez, Audrina Lopez, Miley Canchola, Kaylene Jimenez, Raeann Echols, Mya Williams-Gonzalez, Coach Marci Carruth.
Lovelock is blessed with some of the best Junior PeeWee cheerleaders around.
That's what the judges at the Reno Sparks Convention Center decided on Sunday, Nov. 5, when they awarded the squad a first-place trophy.
"These girls worked hard all season. Most of them either never cheered before or hadn't since they were very little," said coach Marci Carruth. She co-coaches with Kelli Anderson.
Isabelle Anderson, 11, Lluvia (Minnie) Hernandez, 10, Audrina Lopez, 9, Miley Canchola, 11, Kaylene Jimenez, 9, Raeann Echols, 10, and Mya Williams-Gonzalez, 10, impressed the Pop Warner judges with a routine that includes dance, somersaults, cartwheels and stunts.
At their level, the stunts are prep level with no back handsprings.
The Mustangs wore red and black bows in their hair as they bounded onstage to a remix of the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies.
They kept up the energy level throughout their performance.
It added up to a first-place win in their division.
"Divisions are determined based on age, skill level and size of the team," Carruth explained. "We are Junior PeeWee, level one, small. Small is teams of ten or less. Pop Warner has made it super fair with clear grading and score sheets. They make sure you are up against teams who are similar to you."
Not only did the girls bring home the trophy. The Reno/Sparks win punched their ticket to the regional competition in San Jose on Nov. 19.
Mustangs compete in Pop Warner regionals
The stakes were high at San Jose Civic, a former arena now operating as a theater and concert venue.
Nearly 70 teams vied for first or second place in their divisions.
The top two teams from each division will compete in the nationals in Orlando next month.
The Lovelock girls came in third, behind Gilroy and Santa Cruz. It was the end of the road for the Mustangs.
"They're a little disappointed but they're excited we got this far," said Carruth. "We'll try again next year. They've worked well together, encouraged each other and built each other up. There's always little spats here and there but they came through as a team in the end."