By Sydney Leyerle
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
MILLBURY — Give me an H. Give me an H-A-W-A-I-I.
A sophomore cheerleader at Lake High School has been selected to participate in the 20th annual CheerHawaii USA Invitational.
Lauren Parsons was one of 150 girls selected nationwide to participate in the weeklong camp. Nominated by her cheer coach, Parsons was selected based on her academic achievements, leadership qualities and cheer skills.
The camp takes place June 21-28 and is hosted at the University of Hawaii.
Throughout the week, cheerleaders will have the opportunity to work with collegiate coaches from some of the biggest schools in the country. They will have practices, experience college living, attend classroom sessions and experience Hawaiian culture and attractions.
At the end of the week, the girls will showcase their skills in a performance for family and friends.
“I’m excited because I get to experience Hawaiian culture and also I get to fulfill more of my college dreams and I’m just really excited for it because it’ll just be a really great experience,” Parsons said.
The experience will allow Parsons to meet and learn from college coaches. She said she wants to cheer in college and hopes the experience will help her attain that goal.
Having attended cheer camps in the past at the University of Michigan, Parsons said she hopes to attend and cheer for Michigan in the future.
“My family is big Michigan fans and I’ve always grown up watching Michigan football and Michigan basketball,” she said. “So, I’ve been going to their Michigan camps as well. Working with their coaches, working with their athletes, and I just absolutely love that school.”
Having never been to Hawaii, Parsons said she is excited to explore the culture and meet new people. She said she’s also looking forward to seeing how cheerleading is different across the country and hopes to learn new techniques from her peers.
“I’m hoping I can learn new skills and new leadership,” she said. “I’m really excited because it’s people all over the nation, so I’m excited to see other people and how they do cheer and what the similarities and differences are between us.”
Parsons has been cheering since seventh grade and is on the basketball and football cheer squads at Lake as well as the competition team. While she loves it all, Parsons said she enjoys competition cheer the most.
“I like competition cheer the most probably because that’s when we get to do most of our stunts,” she said. “That’s when more of the teamwork is together because you’re kind of relying on everyone. You have to be compatible with each other for the routine to actually work.”
Parsons and her family were able to do a fundraiser to cover the cost of tuition for the camp. Hollie Parsons, Lauren Parsons’ mother, said the family is excited for Lauren to have the opportunity to attend the camp and that they are looking forward to watching the showcase at the end of the week.
Genoa High School cheerleader, Tori Way, was also selected to attend CheerHawaii.
