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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Kamehameha cheerleaders win fifth national title


Advertiser Staff

The Kamehameha Schools varsity cheerleaders captured their fifth national championship at the 30th National High School Cheerleading Championships held over the past weekend at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Competing in the larger division for the first time, the 16-member team defeated 40 other regional champions to win the medium Division I Varsity National Champion title.
Members of the 2010 National Championship squad are Kaylee-Jane Arakaki, Chelsea Bega, Robbi Bulatao, Brianna Burnett, Cady Burnett, Breanna Dano, LeShae Henderson, Rachel Joaquin, Chelsie Kekaula, Kayla Kimura, Emily Luke, Momi Morgan, Mehana Salvani, Kalei Soon, Shawna Uehara and Shelby Wong. The squad is coached by Melissa Beimes, Giselle Kim, and Shawna Lee.
“The girls have done really well all year,” said Beimes, the head coach, said in a press statement: "But we just felt we still had our best performance still inside of us. We expected more from ourselves. And here at Nationals, the girls finally felt like they gave it everything. It was that passion and commitment to a team goal that made the critical difference.”
Kamehameha varsity cheerleaders previously won National Championships in the Small Varsity Division in 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008. Kamehameha also won this season’s state cheerleading title.
Kamehameha scored 85.25, nudging North Laurel High School of Kentucky (2nd, 85.20) and Timber Creek High School of Florida (3rd, 84.35).
This year’s event included 400 regional champions and nearly 10,000 spectators, and will be telecast on ESPN this spring.