Girls give Memphis something to cheer
about

Squad in national
spotlight at bowl game

Wednesday,
January 7, 2009

The Memphis High School cheerleaders are used
to leading the home crowd in roaring chants.

Last week, their audience got a little bigger - well - a lot
bigger.

The seven girls were part of a squad of cheerleaders from across
the country who performed at the half-time show of
the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. The nationally televised game
featured the Michigan State Spartans and the Georgia Bulldogs.

"It was great; I've never seen anything like it,"
cheer coach Sheryl Van Buren said. "I think I was just as excited as the
girls."

Although the Spartans fell 24-12, "the girls did great out
there," she said.

Van Buren's daughter, Alexandra, was as equally excited.

"It was a blast," she said. "It was the best
experience in my life. Nothing compares to the excitement and thrill of a
lifetime going onto that field to perform."

Teammates Krysta Verschure,
Courtney Tyvaert, Amber Bergen, Felicia Marcath, Amber Wallace, and Kristen Abbey were with Van
Buren on the field last Thursday.

In addition to their half-time performance, the trip also
included visits to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. They also hosted
a pool party.

To get to Orlando, the girls had to
raise $1,159. They raised more than half of the money through bake sales, car
washes and other fundraisers.

Felicia Marcath said the moves they
performed were more like dance than the cheer moves they are accustomed to,
which was an adjustment.

Sheryl Van Buren said the girls have been invited back again for
next year's bowl game and can't wait to do it again.

"Although they will have to start fundraising now,"
she said.