By Staff
Kim West
FCT Sports Editor
One of the more interesting matchups of the bowl season is the Capital One Bowl game featuring Florida and Michigan on New Year's Day.
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow and his speedy Gators will take on a Michigan team that lost one of the most infamous games in college football history when Appalachian State upset the Wolverines in Ann Arbor in the season opener.
Most fans will have to tune into ABC to watch the game, which is scheduled to kick off at noon, but one local cheerleading squad has earned the opportunity to watch in person and be a part of the pre-game action.
The Russellville High School junior varsity cheerleading squad was invited to perform in the Capital One Bowl's pre-game ceremonies after receiving superior ratings as a team at a Universal Cheerleading Association camp at Auburn University in June.
The squad is comprised of 12 freshmen and sophomores, including Ashley Johnson (head), Anna-Claire Burgess (co-head), Lauren Jackson, Mollie Flanagan, Lauren Copeland, Chelsea Miller, Abbey Harbin, Jordan Lindsey, Cortney Wray, Marilla Duncan, Leslie Allen and Jordan Moore.
Burgess and Lindsey were also recognized for individual All-Star performances at the camp.
After nearly six months of fundraising, including selling doughuts, collecting donations at Wal-Mart and sponsoring a popular Powder Puff game, and fine-tuning two new routines during the holidays, the squad left town early Saturday morning to take a flight from Birmingham to Orlando, where they will stay at the Disney All-Star Sports Resort until Jan. 2.
"They really have worked hard at fundraising and they learned two routines before going down there," said Beth Gilmer, the team's sponsor and an English teacher at Russellville. "They are really excited about the trip, and I would like to thank everyone who helped us get this opportunity."
Gilmer said the team will spending each morning at rehearsals to prepare for their New Year's Day performance. But there will be plenty of time to sightsee, according to Gilmer.
"Part of the UCA package for the trip includes park passes, so every evening we will visit a different theme park, including Disney MGM, EPCOT and the Animal Kingdom," said Gilmer. "We have several girls who went to Orlando last year with the Russellville Middle School squad for a Thanksgiving show, and they are excited to visit again."
Kim West is sports editor for The Franklin County Times. She can be reached at kim.west@fct.wpengine.com or (256) 332-1881, ext. 30.