DHS cheerleaders set sights on the big stage

DIXON – The Dixon High School cheerleaders will be ringing in the new year in the national spotlight: The varsity and junior varsity squads are going to Orlando, Florida, to cheer during the Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl halftime show.

“It’s total excitement; they’re beyond themselves,” coach Michelle Dewey said.

The 33-member squad – 17 varsity and 16 junior varsity – got the invite from Universal Cheerleaders Association, which trains college and high school cheerleaders at summer camps and clinics, and provides routines for bowl games.

UCA put on a summer camp at Reagan Middle School in May where both squads were evaluated; they were given “supreme recognition” in routine and stunts, which qualified them for the invitation.

“I’m excited,” said Ashley Crawford, 15, a sophomore and the junior varsity captain. “This is a new experience for us,”

Isaac Hernandez, 16, is the only boy on the squad, which means he’ll have a different role than the other cheerleaders.

“The main difference is stunting,” the junior said. “I took tumbling classes through Gymnastics Divine and learned how to do a bunch of different stunts, like back hand springs, front semi’s and other basic techniques.”

Dewey said the squad made it their goal to go to the Bowl “and worked really hard from the get-go” to make it happen.

Before they head to the college bowl to perform on one of the largest stages in college football – in front of 60,000 fans at Camping World Stadium – the squads have some hometown duties to attend to.

“Right now we’re focused playoffs and the upcoming basketball season,” Dewey said.

They’ll get their Citrus Bowl routine next week, and “once we get the routine, we’ll go right to work with extra practices,” she said.

“Hopefully, this is going to be something they remember for a long time.”