More than 1,400 cheerleaders representing high school and middle school squads from Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Nassau and Bronx counties will show off their enthusiasm with jumps and shouts during the 57th Annual Westchester County Regional Cheerleading Invitational on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, November 28, 29 and 30, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
Middle school and junior varsity competition will begin at 4 p.m. and varsity will begin at 7 p.m. each day. On Wednesday, there will be no middle school/junior varsity competition on Wednesday, and the event will begin at 7 p.m.
Squads will be judged on their jumps, tumbling, partner stunts, pyramids/basket tosses, choreography, timing, projection and the difficulty of their routine. Trophies will be awarded for first through fifth place finishes for varsity squads; first through third place for junior varsity and first and second place for middle schools.
The “Grand Champions” trophy competition, in which the first and second-place varsity squads from each day face off, will take place on Wednesday after the varsity competition.
The United States Marine Corps Recruiting Service Color Guard, the Marine Air Group-49 Color Guard and the Young Marines of Westchester will present the colors for the opening ceremony each evening.
To add to the excitement, more than $21,000 in scholarships will be awarded, based on candidates’ academic average, a written essay, school and community involvement, as well as cheerleading ability.
At the conclusion of the competition, both varsity and junior varsity squads will be eligible for the Team Spirit Award sponsored by the Westchester County Police Benevolent Association.
Admission for spectators is $7. Tickets are now on sale for parents and guardians of the competing cheerleaders; tickets for the general public go on sale Friday, November 5. The County Center box office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cash and all major credit cards are accepted.
The Westchester County Center is located at 198 Central Avenue, adjacent to the Bronx River Parkway and Tarrytown Road in White Plains. The building and parking lots are accessible to the disabled. Parking is $4 per car. The County Center is also accessible via the Westchester County BEE-LINE Bus System and is a short walk from the White Plains Metro-North train station.
The event is sponsored by Westchester County Parks, the National Cheerleading Association and the Westchester County Police Benevolent Association.
For more information, call the County Parks Department at (914) 864-7064. General information about County Parks is available by logging on to www.westchestergov.com.
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