By Staff
From special reports
Aug. 28, 2002
The Meridian "All Star" Cheerleader Competition Squad is starting now for girls and boys from second Grade through High School.
Tryouts are set for Friday at Pat Gray Academy rom 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. For more information call 485-4776. No spectators are allowed at tryouts.
Kim Chancellor from Stonewall will be heading up the staff along with coach Richelle Gray of Meridian. The squad will be learning cheer gymnastics, chants, stunts, cheers and dance routines to perform at special events and compete at Cheerleading Competitions. The basic components of cheer tumbling are the round-off, back handspring (standing and in series in or out of a round-off), back tuck (standing and/or in a tumbling series), layouts, twisting layouts, front tucks and Arabians.
They learn synchronization of multiple routines by everyone using the same arm positions and focus as the group performs in unison. The group nature of this activity requires that routine segments be choreographed to the exact musical count for effect and safety of the participant.
Chancellor has an Associate Degree from Jones Junior College and a Bachelor Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Masters in Public Health.
She has been teaching Health and Technology Discovery at Enterprise High School and serving as adjunct instructor at USM. Kim received a cheerleading scholarship to Jones Junior College and traveled to Japan as an alternate cheerleader for USM. She has been a cheerleader sponsor, does individual coaching for cheerleaders, was a high school cheerleader for 6 years, competed on a dance team, and the Meridian Gymnastic Team as well as, did exhibitions at the World's Fair in New Orleans.
Gray has been the head coach of the Meridian Gymnastic Team since 1981 and is a member of the USA Gymnastics and is Nationally Safety Certified in Gymnastics since 1985.
She serves on the Board of the Mississippi Recreational Gymnastic Association and the MS State USAG Junior Olympic Board. She is the former gymnastic coach to Regional Gymnastic qualifiers Allison Miller, April Gibson and Katelyn Crews in Optional Competition.