Goodbye to a Friend

Yesterday we had to put our dog, Tanner, to sleep. It was sudden and unexpected; we were supposed to take him home after his visit to the vet but that didn't happen. He started throwing up Thursday night so we took him to the vet on Friday. He had x-rays done which showed a blockage in his intestines and they referred us to an animal hospital to get whatever was in there removed. When we took him on Saturday to the animal hospital, they told us that he had lymphoma and that the blockage was a bunch of tumors. They gave us the option to put him through chemo and surgery but it was not guaranteed that the treatment would fix him. So we decided to put him down to end his suffering. He was always a happy and energetic dog, even in his last moments he was wagging his fluffy tail. I'll miss being greeted at the door every time I come home, but he's in a better place now.

R.I.P. Tanner

July 4, 2004 - June 4, 2011

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Chattahoochee High School 2010-2011 Competition Squad

This small squad of only 12 girls, with a crazy name, proves that you don't need a lot of girls to rock the floor. With some creativity, this squad pulled off stunts that normally would be done by a larger squad. Even though they placed second at this competition, they still did an amazing job.

We Do More Than You Think

,Today was my first day back to the work force. After a long school year, it was time to put my lifeguard suite and whistle back on and sit up in that chair. This will be my third year guarding and I'd like to fill you in on 15 things we lifeguards won't tell you, according to CNN.com.



1. We clean the bathrooms ...
Everyday my duties include wiping down sinks, cleaning mirrors, and the extremely dreaded chore of cleaning the toilets.

2. ... and run the concession stand

3. We can't watch everyone
 "Even the best lifeguards can miss something while watching a crowded beach with over 200 swimmers. Never assume that the lifeguards will do their job perfectly."
-- Noah, a Jersey Shore ocean lifeguard for more than 10 years

4. Our pool shouldn't smell like chlorine

5. We don't always clear the pool after an "accident" ...

6. ... and if we do, it's not always real
 "At one point, a fellow lifeguard and I sank a Snickers bar so we could have an hour break and make everyone clear the pool. It was the best time ever ... we ordered lunch from a local pizza shop."
-- Alan, a Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, lifeguard for two years

7. We need you to watch your kids

8. We swim after we eat

9. Thunder is our best friend
On days when we know that there is a chance of a thunderstorm, all the guards pay especially close attention to the sky and for thunder. The second we think we hear some, even if it might be a passing truck, we clear the pool. And we're not letting you back in for 30 minutes.
10. We hate floaties
"Arm floaties or swimsuits with life jacket-like belts sewn in are, in fact, dangerous. It's a false sense of security. An arm floatie can pop and strand a weak swimmer far from a wall or shallow water. The life jacket belts can just as easily hold a kid upside down on the surface as right side up. There is no replacement for teaching your kids water safety skills and keeping a close watch."
-- Mary, a San Francisco lifeguard for 10 years

11. The thought of doing CPR scares us

12. We know when you drop your kids off
"If you're leaving your children at the pool for more than four hours every day, we're going to be on a first-name basis and know your entire life story -- even if we've never met you."
-- Greg, a Texas lifeguard and pool manager for five years

13. We have rules for a reason

14. We care about tan lines
Although highly discouraged by medical experts everywhere, tanning is a part of sitting in the sun all day. So it makes sense that lifeguards are the unofficial experts.

15. We're still kids ourselves
 I started life guarding when I was 16 years old.

Genetic Testing To Find Your Inner All-Star

I tried gymnastics, cheerleading, basketball, and field hockey before I decided to stick with cheerleading. Most children, like me, will have tried at least three different sports by the time they are in middle school. According to The Washington Post, two companies have begun selling tests that claim to help match kids with the sports they are genetically programmed to play best.

The DNA scans, the first of an expected wave of attempts to use genes to enhance athletic performance, can steer children toward games they are most likely to win and perhaps get scholarships to play, the companies say. The tests also let children and adults tailor workouts to their innate skills, the firms say, as well as spot those prone to life-threatening heart problems, concussions and other injuries. “The main purpose of the test is to maximize performance in the minimum amount of time and minimize risk,” said Bill Miller, chief executive of American International Biotechnology
Services in Richmond, which began selling the test three weeks ago.

Critics, however, see the kits as the latest in a flood of questionable genetic tests that entrepreneurs are hawking. No one can accurately gauge the influence of genes on athletic abilities or vulnerabilities, they say. The results may be needlessly alarming or falsely reassuring, they say. Skeptics also fear that the trend will encourage overzealous parents and coaches to push kids into sports they dislike or discourage them from physical activities they enjoy and might succeed at despite their genes.

“This is really disturbing,” said Lainie Friedman Ross, a pediatrician and bioethicist at the University of Chicago. “Sports and physical activity should be fun for kids. It shouldn’t be, ‘You’re going to be the world’s greatest athlete’ or ‘Give up now, kid, because you won’t have a chance’ because of your genes.”

This seems like an article straight from the movie GATTACA. While our genes might hold some secrets into which sports we will be best at, I see more bad coming out of these tests than good. What if everyone is made to get these tests done before becoming part of a varsity sport? And what if their test comes back saying that they are not a good match for the sport? Can the coaches discriminate against them and not even let them tryout? I feel like this would become a big issue, because lets face it, sports coaches are out there to put together the best team possible and if someones genetic test says they're not a good match for the sport then coaches are probably going to cut them. Also, these tests take away the experiences a child gets from trying new sports. These experiences teach a child to persevere and how to fail. But with all those pushy parents out there, who want their child to be a super-star athlete, these tests might be done more often then we'd expect.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Grave County High School Competition Squad 2011

This coed squads performance at the 2011 UCA National Championships looked more like that of a collegiate squad than a high school squad. Grave County definitely used their man power to their advantage, using them for their amazing stunting and tumbling abilities to set them apart from the other coed squads. They received the title of National Champs in the Large Varsity coed division. With this title they became the second team to win the division 3 years in a row. Also, the second team to win the division 5 times.

International All-Levels Championship

Varsity All-Star created this program in order to give all squads, no matter what level, a chance win a first place title. During the competitive season, squads qualified at over 400 partner events.

Watch the --eightpart award show on Varsity TV. The show includes highlights from every level. And who knows, maybe the hosts will mention your squad if you participated in this event.

Immunizations for Children in Haiti

For most countries, immunization for all is something that has been going on for a while. However, this is not the case in Haiti and a few other third world countries. According to The New York Times, Haiti has come up with a plan to immunize 90 percent of its newborns by 2015. However, the country now needs over $100 million to carry it out.

Assuming that GAVI — the former Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization — approves the plan, Haiti will be the last country in this hemisphere to adopt a pentavalent vaccine that protects against Haemophilus influenzae type B, or Hib, and hepatitis B, as well as diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. The plan will also include the relatively new rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines.

The ambitious plan depends on international support, which poured in after the earthquake and cholera epidemic. Major improvements will be needed, said Dr. Jon Andrus, deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization, liked building a solar-powered “cold chain” to keep vaccines refrigerated as they are distributed to rural clinics. And even assuming GAVI approval, donations are still $21 million short.


Immunization is something that all children should have done; it keeps them from contracting deadly diseases. And it just does not seem fair that children in Haiti cannot have this life saving procedure done. With a little research you could probably find out where you can send donations to help Haiti reach its goal so they may have the equipment to immunize their children.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Chapin High School Competition Cheerleading Squad 09-10

This squad placed 1st in their division for this performance. This squad obviously has a lot of tumbling experience; I mean, the whole team did round off tucks. However, what I did not like about this routine was the length of their cheer, it seemed too wordy and you could hardly hear what they were saying. But, what I did appreciate was the originality in their stunts and how their choreography seemed to match their music.

Senior Prom

With senior year coming to an end, prom was my last big event before graduation. And this years prom was everything I had hoped it would be. The week started out with tanning, nail and hair appointments and a dress fitting, along with all my other responsibilities like homework. Then Saturday finally came and the day got started right at noon with my aunt messing with my hair. By 1:30 P.M. my make-up was done and it was time to put my dress on. Then the picture taking began and lasted till 5:00P.M., needless to say I have enough photographs to remember every second of that day.

After we were finally done getting pictures taken, we ate dinner at my friends house. There was tons of food:  we had our choice of chicken or steak or, like many of the guys choose, both; then there were twice baked potatoes, cheesy potatoe casserol, pasta salad, salad, fried rice, shrimp, rolls, and maccoronie and cheese; and for dessert we had chocolate covered strawberries, sugar cookie cake, boston cream pie, cupcakes, fruit pizza, and brownies. After we gorged ourselves full of delicious food, we then headed off to prominade to show off our outfits. Then it was time for the main event, the prom. Easily the best part of the night, we spent hours on the dance floor having a blast and taking even more pictures. At the end of the night we returned to where we had our dinner and began to eat what was left over from our meal. I now feel like I'm in a food comma from eating constantly all last night and this morning, but it was worth it because we all had a blast.

Team USA

Ever wonder if there was an Olympic team for cheerleading? Well not quite, but close; Team USA competes with over 60 countries at the International Cheer Union World Championship. The team conducts a national search for America's top cheerleaders to put together one all girl and one coed cheer team. I would love to try out for the team one day, and if there's anyone else who would like information on tryouts go to USA Cheer.

Want to find out what it would be like to be on the squad; visit Varsity TV and watch the 10 episodes called Going for Gold, which documents the teams journey to the International Cheer Union World Championship in 2010.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Japan Cheer MIXED Cheerleading World Championships 2009

Cheerleading may have originated in the United States. but it has now become a popular sport all over the world. This Japan team from 2009 is amazing. This squad is not a high school squad, well at least I do not think they are, but they member of the team seem to be around the high school age at least. One major difference between U.S. squads and Japan squads is their stunts. Japan teams, including this one, have extremely difficult stunts jam packed through out their whole routine; where as a U.S. squad would only have a few. However, the U.S. squads seem to have a lot more tumbling through out their routines and seem to have more difficult passes. All in all, cheerleading have now become a global sport and it's interesting to see how each country performs their routine.

Low-calorie Lunches

Every once and a while, it's nice to go out and grab a bite to eat with a friend. But for those of us watching what we eat, this could be a major set back in our new diet. However, it doesn't have to be, here are seven healthy lunch ideas for when you're dinning out, according to CNN.com.

1. Pizza
Choose 2 slices of Domino's medium hand tossed Philly Steak Pizza:
400 calories, 14 grams fat (6g sat), 840mg sodium.
2. Asian
P.F. Chang's Asian Grilled Salmon Lunch Bowl:
320 calories, 5 grams of fat (1g sat) and only 570 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Round out the meal with a side of garlic snap peas:
64 calories, 2g fat, 107mg sodium.
3. Burger
Surprisingly, go for a McDonald's Hamburger:
250 calories, 9 grams of fat (3.5g sat) and 520 milligrams of sodium.
At such low numbers, this burger leaves room for a 20-calorie side salad (add a serving of Newman's Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette for only 40 calories if you prefer) and small fry (230 calories, 11 grams fat (1.5g sat) and 160mg sodium).
4. Salad
Our top salad pick is Atlanta Bread Company's Salsa Fresca Salmon Salad. This corn and black bean salad adds fiber (6 grams) to this 560 calorie main dish salad with an appetite quenching 38 grams of protein, just 4.5 grams of saturated fat and 590 milligrams of sodium.
5. Chicken
Wendy's Grilled Chicken Go Wrap:
260 calories, with 10 grams of fat (3.5 g sat) and 750mg sodium.
Add a garden side salad (25 calories, 30mg sodium)
and a Mandarin Orange Cup (90 calories, 10 grams of sodium).
6. Sandwich
Ask for 9-grain wheat bread, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and green peppers and your tab for a Subway 6-inch Oven Roasted Chicken Sandwich:
320 calories, 4.5 grams fat (1g sat) and 750mg sodium.
7. Seafood
P.F. Chang's Mahi Mahi:
420 calories, 17 grams of fat (8g sat) and 605mg sodium

Revising the MCAT

As an aspiring doctor, once I make it through my first four years as a biology major, I'll have to start studying for the most important test of my life, the MCAT. The MCAT is basically the "wanna be doctor's SAT" and as a wanna be doctor, I'm going to have to take it. Now, it's not like this will be my first big standardized test; I mean, ever since high school started I've been bombarded with PSSA's, finals, PSAT's, SAT's, AP tests, and just regular everyday exams.  Even though I do not agree, it really seems like testing is the preferred way to asses if a person knows the material or not. However, if that doesn't cause enough stress, the creators of the MCAT are going to revise it, according to The New York Times.

The first MCAT, then referred to as the Scholastic Aptitude Test for Medical Schools, was administered in 1928 and represented an effort to address the significant medical school dropout rates of the time. Over the years, the MCAT has gone through four major revisions and has only strengthened its ability to predict success in medical school, particularly when evaluated in combination with grades. But the MCAT has had one major failing in its otherwise brilliant performance: It has been unable to consistently predict personal and professional characteristics. As early as 1946, medical educators were trying to design the MCAT in a way that might tease out such information, but they, and those who followed, were unable to succeed.

Now the MCAT is about to undergo its fifth revision, the first in nearly 25 years. Last month, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the national organization that administers the MCAT, recommend, among other things, lengthening the four-and-a-half hour exam by 90 minutes and adding questions on disciplines like sociology and psychology. The new exam would also test analytical and reasoning skills in areas like ethics, philosophy and cross-cultural studies, which could include questions about how someone living in a particular demographic situation, for example, might perceive and interact with others.

Lengthening an already four-and-a-half hour exam, they have to be kidding. I've taken the five hour SAT's and it was awful. Sitting there and trying to concentrate for that long was almost impossible and the SAT's tests you on easy topics like math and reading, not on the functions of different enzymes in your body and the dreaded organic chemistry. Maybe if the creators feel this part of the test needs to be added it could be a separate test, taken on another day coupled with maybe an interview to find out if you have strong people skills.

Despite what some view as a long overdue re-examination of this linchpin of medical school admissions, many medical educators, including members of the advisory committee, remain cautious about tampering with a test that has proved successful so far.

The science of personality testing has advanced tremendously over the last 25 years, but the committee felt it was still unclear how accurately a test could predict traits like integrity, altruism and the ability to collaborate. Some members were uncomfortable, too, with the long-term implications. “Will we end up labeling someone forever with a 9.2 for their personality?” Dr. Franks asked.

Only time will tell whether this newest version succeeds where earlier ones have not. But one thing is certain: Taking the MCAT is likely to remain a rite of passage for doctors-to-be for years to come. The new exam will be administered beginning in 2015.

And to top it all off, this new revised version of the MCAT will be administered for the first time, the year I graduate from my four year college. Looks like I'm going to be one of the many guinea pigs for this new revised version. I better start practicing my sitting and concentrating skills.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Mount Saint Charles High School 2011 Competition Squad

This Coed Varsity squad performed this routine at the New England Finals and received third in their division. Even though this squad did not finish first, they had a very nice routine, which is actually why I choose them this week. This is one of my favorite routines. And even though they finished third, this squad has a lot of talent; they just need to clean up their timing and tumbling skills. But the number one reason I'm in love with this routine is their dance.

Did You Decide Yet?

May 1st, to many people this will just be another day, but for high school seniors it's the day that they must decide on where they will be continuing their education. Even though I procrastinated on visiting and applying to colleges, I actually chose my college early and have already sent in my deposit. But for all you procrastinators out there, here are 5 tips, according to The Washington Post, to help you get rid of some of that stress that might overwhelm you this week.

1. Those rejections aren’t your problem.
Even though you may not have been accepted to your top pick, there are plenty other colleges that you did get in to; so stop fretting about being rejected and look on the bright side, you got accepted somewhere else.
2. If you don’t like the college you chose, it’s easy to get another one.
About 20 percent of students who start at one four-year college graduate from another four-year college. Many more start at two-year colleges, then move to four-year schools.
3. Your future success has no bearing on whether your grandmother has heard of your college.
Students accepted by selective colleges but who decided to attend non-selective ones were making just as much money 20 years later as those who attended the selective, brand-name schools. Those prestigious colleges were good at recruiting students who had the character traits, such as persistence, humor and charm, that produced success in life. But students with those qualities who went to colleges rarely mentioned in the rankings did just as well.
4. Your college will have many Ivy League-quality students and professors.
Admissions officers at colleges that reject 80 or 90 percent of applicants readily admit that there is no difference between applicants they accept and large numbers of the applicants they reject. Some of those disappointed but brilliant people, like you, will go to your school and give it the intellectual fizz and take-charge energy you find at the Ivies.
5. Whatever your mood now, you will be happy once you ditch your parents.
 For the first time, you get to decide what you do every day. In just four months, you will be making friends and sampling new experiences in what are likely to be the most unsettling, strenuous and exciting years of your life.

UCA, Making A Difference

As I've said before, a large part of cheerleading, that often goes unnoticed, is helping out around the community. UCA, The Universal Cheerleading Association, is asking squads that attend their summer camps to help raise money for the St. Jude Children's Hospital. St. Jude is one of the world's premier centers for research and treatment of pediatric cancer, treating children from across the U.S. and from all around the world. All research discoveries made there are freely shared with the global medical community.  Also, no child is ever turned away because of a family’s inability to pay, and families without insurance never receive a bill for treatment. And to put how much this program needs money into perspective, it costs more than $1.6 million per day to operate St. Jude, and that comes primarily from donations.


This year, UCA is teaming up with St. Jude to support its life saving mission of finding cures for children fighting cancer and other catastrophic illnesses. We want to help St. Jude kids have victory over pediatric cancer, and we need your team to help make it happen. We're asking each team member to help spread the word about this great cause by sending five letters to friends and family and asking them to make a donation - that's it! If you've already signed up for a UCA camp, here's what your team can do to join in this effort:

1. Visit UCA's Registration Tracker. Login and look for the Team Up for St. Jude spirited by Varsity logo and click on it to find out more details and to participate in this program.
2. Complete the fundraising letters and Team Up curriculum at a pre-camp practice or meeting.
3. Cheerleaders and coaches who turn in at least five letters at camp will be awarded a special

Team Up for St. Jude pin.In Varsity’s partnership with St. Jude the theme is Hope. During this year’s camp season, we hope your team joins us in making a difference in the lives of St. Jude children. We hope more awareness is raised about this cause. And we hope a cure is found!

High School Competition Squad of the Week

2007 Pinelands Regional Varsity Competition Squad

What I really found interesting about this squad was that they used front tumbling passes like front handsprings and front tucks, which are usualy more gymnastic moves than a cheerleading ones. I also thought it was very unique how they used blow-up letters as signs. Witht his performance this squad was the 2007 New Jersey State Champions.

Prom Is Creeping Closer

It's that time of year again, high school proms and graduations are just around the corner. Which means your mom is going to want to take a million and three pictures of you at each event. Here are some tips from CNN.com to help you get photo ready for the occasions.




Consider a spray tan
It gives you a nice glow and evens out your skin tone. Plus it's infinitely better than damaging skin cells by lying out in the sun or baking in a tanning bed. DHA, the active ingredient in modern day tanning solutions, works with the proteins in the top layer of your skin to turn it golden brown. Since your upper epidermis is made up of dead cells, they aren't harmed in the process and the chemicals won't be absorbed into your body because they will eventually shed off with the dead skin. Most spray tans fade away in seven days. Get it done two days before your event if you're wearing a light-colored dress; one day before is fine if it's a darker color.

Whiten your teeth
A ton of teeth whitening products are on the market and almost any of them will produce results with some time. The American Dental Association says whitening products work in one of two ways, either bleaching the tooth to change its color or by using physical reactions to remove surface stains.
Whitening strips work well in just a few days by bleaching surface and set-in stains similar to a professional service.

Clear up your skin
 Use a salicylic acid body wash and you should see things clear up in a couple of weeks. If you get a zit three or four days before the party, you have a good chance of getting rid of it with a daily salicylic acid face wash and a benzoyl peroxide topical cream.

Lose the bloating
The best ways to get rid of that extra water weight before a party don't involve skipping meals, taking laxatives or eating grapefruit for a week. Eat foods high in water content such as fruits and vegetables and low in sodium, like lean meats. Avoid processed foods, and snack every three to four hours. Follow this "diet" and you'll have the energy required to deal with mom's shutterbug tendencies AND dance the night away.

Catch The "Go Green Bug"

It seems in today's world that everyone is going green. Recycling, organic foods and fuels, and energy efficient appliances seem to have become all the rage. So why not catch the "going green bug" and take a few easy steps to improve the health of our planet. Below is a list of twelve products you should stay away from if you are trying to go green, thanks to CNN.com.

1. Styrofoam
Carry your own reusable coffee mugs, skip the fast food, and use glass and metal storage containers whenever possible.
2. Plastic food containers with bisphenol-A (BPA)
If you really must use plastic, choose BPA-free varieties (such as those marked with No. 2, No. 4 and No. 5 codes). And be sure to recycle them when you're done.
3. Tropical hardwoods
Don't know where the wood in that magnificent dining table was sourced? Leave it at the store, and look for goods manufactured through certified forestry programs.
4. Aluminum in cosmetics
5. Incandescent bulbs
6. Petroleum-based fabric sheets and laundry detergent
 Switch to vegetable-based laundry soaps and seek out less potent alternatives.
7. Overpackaged goods
8. Paper towels and napkins
There are some messes best cleaned up with paper, but couldn't you use more kitchen cloths?
9. Plastic utensils
Consider some alternative strategies: portable metal mess kits for picnics, or simply washing plastic goods and using them again.
10. Disposable batteries
With all the electronic devices in our lives these days, it makes environmental (and financial) sense to switch to rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries. They're less toxic and save you money.
11. Commercial insecticides
 But there are less toxic and nontoxic ways of controlling bugs, from borax (a poison) to essential oils, select plants, and ways to make common insects feel less welcome in your cupboard.
12. Household cleaners

Baking soda, vinegar and salt are the backbone of a cleaner-and-greener home.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Greenup High School 2011 Competition Squad

After this performance, Greenup went on to take 1st place in the Large Varsity, Division II at the 2011 UCA Nation Competition. I chose this squad not just for their amazing stunts and tumbling passes but for their dance. Many squads tend to stick to the cookie cutter, stiff motioned dance routines, but not Greenup. They look like they're having fun and actually enjoy their original dance.



Is There A Top Exercise?

Exercising, whether to stay healthy or drop a few pounds, is on a lot of peoples minds today. It seems that some people are under the impression that there is one type of exercising that puts all the rest to shame. However, according to The New York Times that's probably not the case.

Looking for the best exercise for your body? Maybe it’s walking, running, squats or even the butterfly stroke. Phys Ed columnist Gretchen Reynolds has the answers (sort of) in this week’s New York Times Magazine. She writes:

Ask a dozen physiologists which exercise is best, and you’ll get a dozen wildly divergent replies. “Trying to choose” a single best exercise is “like trying to condense the entire field” of exercise science, said Martin Gibala, the chairman of the department of kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.”

My advise would be to try a bunch of different workout routines and decide which one works best for you. But remember try the workout out for at least a week or two, miracles don't happen over night.

Should Buying A School Lunch Be Mandated?

As a picky eater, I have packed my lunch everyday for the last 13 years of my schooling. If I was told that I would no longer be allowed to bring my own lunch from home, I would be furious. Well according to CNN this is actually happening in a school in Chicago.

Monica Eng and Joel Hood of the Chicago Tribune report that a school on the city's West Side is prohibiting its students from bringing home-prepared lunches to school, unless they have a medical excuse or an allergy.Instead, the children at Little Village Academy, must either purchase lunch from the school's cafeteria, or opt to skip lunch entirely.

I feel this is an injustice, especially at the Little Village Academy. How can a school deny a student a lunch from home? What if the child is a picky eater, like myself, and does not like what the school is serving that day; the school actually expects that child to go a day without food even though they brought something from home?

Principal Elsa Carmona stands by the ban she set six years ago after seeing students pack "bottles of soda and flaming hot chips" for school field trips. Carmont touts the health benefits of the cafeteria's offerings - especially after the Chicago school system tightened its nutritional standards last year to include a greater offering of fiber, whole grains, more dark green and orange vegetables and reduce fat and sugar content.

While I agree the nutrition of school lunches needs to be increased, a school can not ban packed lunches. A child needs to eat and if that means bringing a lunch from home then that's the food that child should be allowed to eat. The mere idea to ban packed lunches just seems way too extreme to me.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Kamehameha 2010 Varsity Competition Squad

This varsity squad received 1st place in the medium varsity division at the UCA National Competition in Orlando, Florida. This squad starts out very strong in this routine which is why I chose them this week. They start off this routine with a team standing back-handspring, tuck and then go right into a four-in-a-row jump sequence. However, this squad wasn't finished after that amazing showing. Then in their cheer they used pretty much only single based stunts. Lots and lots of single based stunts, which are very difficult for an all girls team to pull off. All in all this is another amazing high school squad, who definitely deserved their first place finish.



Yoga Moves To Tone Your Entire Body

Everyone has that one trouble area they've been trying to tone and trim for years. Thanks to this routine created by Mark Blanchard, the Los Angeles based man behind the popular True Power Yoga DVDs, follow this 25-minute sequence 4 times per week, and in 3 weeks you’ll be much firmer all over.

Start With This: Stand tall with feet together, equal weight on both your feet, arms by sides. Inhale and exhale through your nose 5 times.

To Stretch Your Back And Legs: Inhale as you reach your hands up toward the sky, then exhale and bend at the waist to fold over your legs, reaching toward the ground (hold your calves, if it feels comfortable; shown). Hold for 5 breaths, concentrating on lifting your quadriceps (don’t lock your knees) and letting your upper body hang

To Get Rid Of That Muffin Top: Exhale as you put hands on the ground (bend your knees, if you need to), and walk your feet back to Plank position (shown here). Your feet should be hip-width apart, with your hands directly under your shoulders. Keep your belly firm and hips lifted as you press through your heels. Hold for 5 breaths.

To Tone Arms And Thighs: Inhale as you bend your arms to lower to Low Plank position. Hold for 1 breath.

To Tone Your Back: Exhale as you lower your body to the mat, with hands still under your shoulders and the tops of your feet on the mat. Inhale as you press up through your hands to Upward-Facing Dog, lifting your knees if you’re able (shown at right). Keep your shoulders down and away from your ears, chest open, and fingers spread. Hold for 3 breaths.

To Stretch Your Back And Legs: Inhale as you tuck your toes and push back up into Low Plank, then exhale as you lift your hips and thighs and straighten your arms (don’t lock your elbows), moving into Downward-Facing Dog position (shown). Keep your hips lifted high as you press your heels down. Hold for 5 breaths.

To Tone Your Hips: Keeping your hips square, inhale as you lift your right leg back, then bend your knee and step your right foot forward. Come to standing with your left foot turned out 45 degrees and left heel centered behind your right foot. Face your hips forward and stretch down over your right leg, arms reaching down on either side of the leg. Bend your right knee to 90 degrees, and lift your arms up overhead (hips still facing forward) into Warrior 1 position. Hold for 1 breath.

To Tone Your Lower Abdominals: Inhale as you straighten your right knee, then exhale as you bend it again, twisting your torso toward the left and lowering your arms so that the right arm is straight out in front of you and your left arm is straight out behind you (shown to the right). Hold for 1 breath.

To Tone Your Thighs: Inhale as you straighten your right leg and hinge forward at the hip to come into Extended Triangle pose, bringing your right hand to your shin, ankle, or the floor and raising your left hand straight up into the air. Hold for 1 breath.

To Tone Those Love Handles: Keeping your legs strong and belly firm, inhale and reach both hands forward. Bend your right knee and reach your right shoulder toward it, then straighten your leg as you raise back up (shown to the right). Bend and straighten 2 more times, then turn your chest toward the ground and fold over your straight right leg; hold for 5 breaths. Inhale as you bend both knees, and return to Plank position. Hold for 1 breath. Do steps 3–10 on the left side, then repeat the whole series (steps 3–10 on each side) 2 more times.

To Tone Your Butt And Thighs: From Plank position, inhale as you step your right foot forward, followed by your left. Slowly rise halfway up, lifting your chest and bringing your arms overhead. Sink back into your hips (be sure to keep your knees behind your toes), as if sitting in a chair (shown). Keep your back straight, and tuck your tailbone. Hold for 10 breaths.

To Tone Your Back: Inhale as you slowly return to standing. Exhale as you wrap your hands around the top of your hips and butt with your thumbs at your tailbone. Lift your chest as you gently push your elbows back and in toward each other, bringing hips forward and arching your back. Hold for 5–10 breaths.

End With This: Release. Inhale as you reach your hands up toward the sky, then exhale and bend at the waist to fold over your legs (shown to the right). Hold for 3 breaths, letting your upper body hang like a rag doll.

Is The Grass Really Greener?

The grass is greener on the other side; we've all heard this popular saying, but is it really true. This week is tryout week for cheerleading at my school. Since I'll be graduating this year, instead of trying out I am helping teach the material. While I enjoy teaching dances and cheers, and coaching is a way that I can continue to cheer even after my cheerleading prime has passed me; I would not say that the grass is greener on this side. I would much rather be on of the cheerleaders than the coach in charge. Even though coaching lets me be a part of the sport it doesn't let me participate in the sport, and that's the major reason the grass is actually a little water deprived and starting to shrivel on the other side. After all these uneasy thoughts of having to someday stop doing what I love, I keep getting more and more excited and anxious for the week of Big 33 and to start cheering in college. June 11, the first day of the Big 33, can not come fast enough.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

North Laurel Middle School 2011 Competition Squad

I know that I usually look at high school squads, but what would a good high school squad be without an amazing junior high program. Well North Laurel has an amazing middle school squad. This group of 12 to 14 year olds are pulling off stunts and tumbling passes that most high school squads can't master. With this routine they were named the 2011 UCA Large Junior High National Champions. This win was their third consecutive NHSCC Large Junior High National Championship.

American Diets Not Working? Try One From France

As obesity becomes more and more of a problem in America, many people are setting out to live a healthier life. And with that healthier life style, Americans are also hoping to shed a few pounds along the way. Well a French diet that has been around for almost 70 years maybe be the solution.

Pierre Dukan has been called the Dr. Atkins of France. Well over a million people there have tried the 69-year-old doctor’s program, a method that promises — like countless diets before and since — no hunger, no calorie counting, instant weight loss and lifelong weight maintenance. The original Dukan diet book sold 3.5 million copies in French and has been translated into 14 languages. Next month, the diet will make its American debut when Crown Publishing rolls out the North American edition of “The Dukan Diet,” its cover featuring a plate with two Eiffel Towers and the words, “The Real Reason the French Stay Thin.”

The diet’s high-protein, low-fat approach is organized into four phases, the first of which encourages dieters to eat as much as they want of non-fatty, protein-rich foods, including oat bran — a key component — washed down with oceans of water. The second stage introduces vegetables, but no fruit; the third brings with it two slices of bread, a serving of cheese and fruit and two servings of carbohydrates a day, with two weekly “celebration” meals with wine and dessert (the diet is French, after all); and the final stage — six days a week of “anything goes” and one day of reversion to strict stage one.

To learn more, read the full report, “Warmed-Over Atkins? Don’t Tell the French,”. However, if you want to know the secrets and specifics behind this diet you're going to have to wait a month to read the book. Maybe you should call Barns&Nobles and pre-order it now, before they're all sold out.

New to the UCA Summer Camp

As a high school cheerleader, one of my favorite events of the season is going away to summer camp. Since my parents don't like to travel, camp was always sort of a vacation for me. Now that spring is approaching and it's time to say goodbye to an old squad and hello to a new one. Because I'm graduating I will no longer be going to summer camp but for all the underclassmen on my old squad, this year at camp will be a little different.

New this summer, UCA will be offering new programs at camp including a new and improved UCA Game Time and Fan Frenzy Day, Champions on the Field and UCA Summer Nights.

Our new and improved UCA Game Time & Fan Frenzy Day includes pre-game ideas, cheers, and choreography to keep pep rallies and school traditions fresh and energized. Squads will also learn offense, defense, and general sidelines with fun contests and optional Fight Song. For attending camp, each squad will take home a play-by-play booklet and planning worksheets.
During the review relay on the final day, UCA will introduce a new program called "Champions on the Field." This is your time to showcase what you’ve learned at summer camp. Squads will collect ribbons for knowledge and speed of performing stunts and material. All squad members participate in this fun activity.

Also new this year, there will a Beach Bash Pep Rally on the second night of camp! Enjoy UCA staff and coach performances, team relay races, hula hoop contest, limbo, staff lip sync, and more! Rally ends with a Beach Club Dance Party!

For more information on UCA camps visit the Camp page. To search or register for a UCA Summer Camp visit the Online Camp Search page.

 
 

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Choctaw High School Yellow Jackets Varsity Competition Squad

This high school cheerleading squad from a small town competed against 125 teams for the title NCA Grand Champion. With a final score of 96.20 they claimed their first Grand Champion title. I chose this squad in the honor of my own, because they too won their first grand championship. Now, this squad has way more difficulty in their routine than ours but none the less we're both grand champions. I really enjoy this squad’s use of transitions and effects in their dance; it really makes the routine visually interesting.

Out With a Bang!

After cheering for 13 years and competing for 10, yesterday was the last time I competed with my high school varsity squad. We went into the competition knowing that it was also the last one for our coach, who us seniors have cheered under for the last 6 years. Being it was her last competition coaching the varsity squad, we were determined to do our best and make her proud. The emotional day started at 7:00 A.M., bright and early as usual, and the tears started flowing in warm-ups. After seeing our assistant coach break down and cry in warm-ups it gave us that extra motivation to go for gold. Our routine hit perfectly and then we just had to wait for awards. I knew we had done our best, but I wasn't sure if it would be good enough to get us that first place finish we wanted so bad. But then awards came and we ended up placing first out of the four varsity squads. And the biggest shock of all: we received grandchampions in the school division, beating out two college squads for the title. Our coaches were ecstatic and it seems like we spent forever taking pictures and basking in our victory. I do plan to continue cheering in college, but the university I'm attending does not compete. So after all my years of competing, it was great to end it with this last win.




Varsity, Junior High, and Coaches

 

Is There Something in the Water?



 I know about four sets of twins, and I can guess that everyone else knows about that many, too. But what if you lived in a town where about 20% of the people you knew had a twin? According to a report in The New York Times, in the small village of São Pedro this is the case.

For years, so many twins have been born in the small southern Brazilian town of Cândido Godói that residents wonder whether something mysterious lurks in the water, or even if Josef Mengele, the Nazi physician known as the Angel of Death, conducted experiments on the women there.

But a group of scientists now says it can rule out such long-rumored possibilities. Ursula Matte, a geneticist in Porto Alegre, Brazil, said a series of DNA tests conducted on about 30 families since 2009 found that a specific gene in the population of Cândido Godói appears more frequently in mothers of twins than in those without.

The phenomenon is compounded by a high level of inbreeding among the population, which is composed almost entirely of German-speaking immigrants, she said. “We analyzed six genes and found one gene that confirms, in this population, a predisposition to the birth of twins,” Dr. Matte said.

In biology class, you learn that genes control everything from hair color to diseases you may have. They also control your offspring, including if you are prone to having twins or not. But to find this gene in so many women in a small community raises the question of whether it was inbreeding or maybe a dominant or linked gene that caused this spike in twins? The scientists in this article credit the increased twin birth rate with inbreeding, but this has been going on for almost a hundred years. I feel like this gene would have died out or mutated by now; which would lead me to believe that the gene may be dominant or link to a dominate trait.

It was especially high in São Pedro, a village of about 350 residents that is part of Cândido Godói. Dr. Matte found that from 1990 to 1994, 10 percent of the births in São Pedro were twins, compared with less than 1 percent for Brazil as a whole.

The high concentration of twins has stirred outlandish theories.  An Argentine journalist suggested in a 2008 book that Mengele conducted experiments on women in Cândido Godói that resulted in a baby boom of twins, many of whom have blond hair and light-colored eyes. But the study led by Dr. Matte analyzed 6,615 baptism certificates dating back 80 years in the predominantly Roman Catholic town and found that the twins phenomenon existed in the 1930s, “long before Mengele’s period,” she said.

Her team of 20 researchers also analyzed the town’s water supply — residents believe a mysterious mineral may be responsible for the high rate of twin births — and uncovered no abnormalities.

While studying the baptism certificates, the scientists confirmed that the highest concentration of twins has been in São Pedro, with 33 pairs out of 436 births from 1959 to 2008, all living in a one-and-a-half-square-mile area. “With a small population of about 80 families, it was a challenge to find women that did not have twins within a first-degree relation,” Dr. Matte said. The scientists believe that a small number of immigrant families living in São Pedro may have brought the variant gene to the region. 

Even though this village now has this information, I do not think it will change their way of life. The twin population in São Pedro will most likely continue to grow. Maybe one day the village of São Pedro will be in the record books for village with the greatest population of twins.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Fairport Varsity Cheerleading Nationals 2011, Baltimore, MD

I like this video because of the way it goes through and shows the routine and then the results and the squads reaction. I also like how during the routine you can hear the girl's parents yelling with them. I don't think many people realize how big of a commitment cheerleading is and how involved most parents are in their childs squad. This squad seems to have it all; great tumbling, amazing stunts, perfect jumps, energy, and spirit. However, even thought I feel like I say this a lot, this squads stunts are superior to any varsity squad I have seen before. That opening stunt sequence, was flawless and amazingly difficult. But all in all, this is another amazing squad that works had and has a great team every year.

Competition, Dinner Dance, Church Singing, Oh My...

This weekend has been a very busy one for me. Saturday started off bright and early at 5:30 A.M. when I woke up to get ready and leave for a cheerleading competition. We loaded the bus at 7:00 A.M. and arrived at 9:00 A.M. We performed at 10:20 A.M. and did a fabulous job. All our stunts hit and everything we changed worked out, even though we only had one practice beforehand. We ended up placing second out of four squads which I am very satisfied with. Right after my squad performed most of us left because that night was the Senior Dinner Dance at our school and most of the girls had hair appointments to attend. So after leaving I arrived home around 12:30 P.M. and started to get ready. I was finally ready around 4:00 P.M. when my family, my boyfriend and his mother arrived to take pictures. We then left at 5:00 P.M. to go get group pictures with some of our friends. Finally we made it to the dance around 6:00 P.M. We had a blast and danced the night away. One big plus about the dance this year was the food was actually very good and you got a lot more to eat than usual. And then to top this hectic weekend off, I had to wake up around 8:00 A.M. this morning to go sing at a church with the ensemble. Most of us were extremely exhausted from the dance last night, but we still pulled off a great performance. And now finally I get to take a breather a rest for the rest of my day.





America's Living Longer

As the technology and grade of health care rises, so does the number of years we are living. According to an article on The New York Times website, the life expectancy in the United States has risen above 78 years of age.


The estimate of 78 years 2 months is for a baby born in 2009, and comes from a preliminary report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts do not believe there is one simple explanation for the increase, but better medical treatment, vaccination campaigns and public health measures against smoking are believed to be having an impact. The infant mortality rate hit a record low of 6.42 deaths per 1,000 live births, a drop of nearly 3 percent from 2008. Male life expectancy is roughly 75.5; for females, it is about 80.5.


As the mortality rate goes down and the life expectancy goes up, one question comes to mind; won't this also cause population to increase? And where will all these people be living? Our planet is already tight on space. So maybe in the near future we'll finally see scientists start to really take a look at how we could live on another planet.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Peachtree Ridge High School Varsity Coed  2008

If you're not first, you're last. Well I think it's OK to get second place, which is what this squad did. Second place doesn't mean you had a bad routine or you did awful; it just means one other squad did better than you. This squad really only had one little fall, which probably cost them the first place title. However this routine was packed full of cleanly executed and difficult stunts and tumbling passes. This just goes to show, second doesn't mean last.

Back to the Grind

This Saturday, after two months off, I finally got back into competitive cheerleading. And what a way to come back it was; I came back right in time for a national competition and my secondary base was taking the SAT's, so the girl that had been filling my flying position was now my base. One good thing about coming back for this competition was I had three practices to get back into things instead of the usual one. However, those first three practices really made my muscles sore and tired me out. Cheerleading works muscles you hardly ever use and after not using them for two months, waking up the morning after practice was not a fun time. We ended up getting second at this national competition, even though we received a fifteen point deduction for an illegal stunt. However, in warm-ups I was so nervous I didn't know if I was going to make it through the routine. After being out because of breathing problems, going back to the one thing that gave me trouble breathing was a scary thought. Somehow I manged to push through and ended up being fine and hitting all my stunts and tumbling passes.

We have another competition this coming Saturday and I'm glad to say my base will be back. This is also the say of the Senior Dinner Dance, so it will be an early morning and a long ride but hopefully we can pull out another win.

March is National Cheerleading Safety Month

While some people do not view cheerleading as a sport, I hope everyone can agree on its dangers. Because cheerleading is the number one most dangerous woman's sport, the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) is hosting a course to educate coaches on how to spot and perform cheerleading stunts and tumbling safely.

Varsity, the leading organization in cheerleading camps and education, announced that it will provide free safety certification courses to the first 200 coaches to log on to the National Federation of State High School Association’s website to take the course in March. This initiative is part of National Cheerleading Safety Month and Varsity’s ongoing mission to raise awareness about the importance of coaches’ education in keeping cheerleading safe for all participants.

“Athlete safety is of paramount importance to us,” said Founder and CEO Jeff Webb. “We want every school’s cheer program to take advantage of the best resources available, and are excited to provide this opportunity to coaches nationwide.”

Providing this program for coaches will hopefully cut down on the number of injuries. I've seen at least one girl on my squad each year get injured, from getting a finger nail ripped off to the tearing of ACLs.

More than 22,000 coaches have already completed the comprehensive risk management course on site and online. The course was created by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA), the leading safety certification and risk management organization, founded in 1987.  Varsity, which includes the Universal Cheerleaders Association, National Cheerleaders Association and United Spirit Association, has worked with AACCA for more than 20 years, providing a comprehensive safety training curriculum for coaches, advisers and students of school-based programs.

Last summer alone, more than 300,000 cheerleaders completed a Safety Awareness Program at camps across the country. AACCA has been endorsed by the NFHS and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and is seen as the standard of care in cheerleading safety nationwide. 

My squad goes to a Varsity sponsored camp and every year the camp instructors go over safety rules and remind us of safe stunting techniques. Always remember to SLACK while stunting. "S" is for spotter. "L" is for know your limits. "A" is for positive attitude. "C" is for confidence. "K" is for knowledge.  Coaches can complete the AACCA Cheerleading Safety Course online by following the steps at aacca.org/safetycourse.

High School Competition Squad of the Week

Graves County High School Large Coed Varsity 2011

This week I decided to choose a coed high school squad. With a coed squad you have the opportunity to do single-based stunts and throw your tosses higher, thanks to the muscular men. This squad has definitely taken advantage of having guys on their squad; their tosses are double the height of any all girl squad I've seen and most of their stunts are single based. Even though most guys think cheerleading is a girls sport or not a sport at all, I encourage any guy to give it a try. I mean, what's more manly than throwing a girl around and not to mention you get to spend around ten hours a week with these girls.

Is Looking Good for Prom Worth the Risk?

With prom season coming up, many teenage girls and boys are hitting up the tanning salons. However, how many of them are aware of the damage it can do to their skin or the risk it can cause of developing skin cancer? According to a report on CNN.com, teenagers should be banned from the tanning beds (Teens should be banned from tanning booths, doctors say).

It's an activity the nation's pediatricians say is dangerous. Laws should ban minors from going to tanning parlors, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced Monday. This echoes positions of the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Dermatology. Melanoma affects the deepest layer of the skin and poses dangers because it spreads rapidly. Since 1992 it has been increasing by 3% each year in women between the ages of 15 and 39. "We are looking for legislation that prohibits kids from going to tanning salons. It's protecting our youth from something potentially harmful," said Dr. Sophie Balk, lead author of the statement written by an American Academy of Pediatrics committee.

The Indoor Tanning Association disagrees that tanning should be legislated. "We're talking about getting a sun tan," said John Overstreet, the association's spokesman. "This is a decision best left for parents, not the government. Let parents make the decision." He added that there is no scientific evidence that tanning is any worse at a younger age.

I will admit that I tan during the prom season, however, I usually only go for 16 minutes, once a week for maybe three or four weeks before the dance. I understand the risks and my mother even works in a doctors office, but I also life guard during the summer and I view my job as more of a danger for my skin than tanning for that little of time. I do not think that tanning should be out-lawed for teens but maybe some regulations should be put on it. Regulations that regulate how many times a week and how many minutes a teen is allowed to be in a tanning bed would seem more realistic than banning this activity. Because honestly you can buy a tanning bed to put in your home, so maybe teens wouldn't be allowed to tan in a salon but they could still do it at home. However, along with the regulations, tanning salons should be mandated to tell teen customers about the risks associated with tanning before they get in the booths.

While kids may not be more vulnerable to skin cancers, they are less capable of making responsible decisions, said Dr. David Fisher, chief of dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. "The industry has exploited this fact," he said. "They have packaged deals for repeat use."  The ads appear before prom season and offer student discounts. "

There have been a few instances where statements have been made that [ultraviolet rays] are healthy because of vitamin D. That's an extremely irresponsible concept that leads children or parents to think, 'It isn't so bad. What's wrong with looking good for prom?'" Tanning is a poor method of getting vitamin D, doctors say. The safer methods are supplements or incidental sun exposure. There are two types of radiation. UVA rays cause deeper damage to the skin, leading to wrinkles and DNA damage that causes the darkening. UVB rays cause sunburns. Sunlamps and tanning beds emit UVA rays that give customers a glow without a sunburn.

In their quest for a glowing tan, teenagers are pre-aging their skin by 10 to 20 years, Fisher warned. "It causes them to wrinkle later on and increases risk of skin cancer," said Balk, an attending pediatrician at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, New York. "It doesn't mean everyone develops skin cancer, but it increases the risk."

Aging your skin by 10 to 20 years, as a teenage girl this is not something I want to do to my skin. But also I want to look good in my prom dress, so for me choosing to only tan once a week for a few weeks seems like a good balance. I also do not plan to continue tanning in college; once I'm done with the prom-thing I'll also be done with the tanning-thing. Maybe some teenagers out there will rethink their tanning plans after knowing about the risk they are putting themselves at for cancer.