VHHS cheerleaders selling shirts for competition trip

The Rebel Cheerleaders are hoping to make another powerful showing at the national cheerleading competition in February, but are looking for help to get there.

The team and supporters are selling T-shirts and sweatshirts in order to raise funds to pay for travel expenses to the competition, which will take place in Orlando Feb. 11-12.

Last year, the team placed fourth, and of course are hoping to reach even higher accolades this go around.

"We're hoping to be No. 1 this year," said Marcella Shephard, whose daughter is on the competition team and junior varsity squad.

This year will be the second competition for the team's new competition coach, Ryan Martin, who led the team to place fourth the last time, and is also a coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"We are so fortunate to have her," Shephard said.

Of the 50 member cheerleading team from the school, 30 will compete, but the entire team will travel to Orlando.

With that trip come significant travel expenses, including airfare and hotel accommodations, so Shephard said the team is hoping to augment some of that cost by selling exclusive T-shirts and sweatshirts.

All four of the available products are of the Comfort Colors brand, and range in price from $15 for a pocket short-sleeve to $30 for a sweatshirt. There is also a three-quarter length "baseball" shirt that comes with sleeves in both blue and red for $20. The items come in both adult and youth sizes.

Team parents and volunteers are currently taking pre-orders for the shirts, and the pre-order period will last until Saturday, Nov. 5.

For more information, contact Shephard at Rscheppy@bellsouth.net or Jana Crim at mjcrim@bellsouth.net.