PELHAM – Pelham High School’s varsity and junior varsity cheerleading squads went home with several awards and accolades after attending the Universal Cheerleading Association Summer Camp at the University of Alabama June 13-16.

The two teams attend the camp every summer to learn defense, offensive and time out cheers, to work on tumbling and stunts and to learn new hip-hop and pep rally dance routines, among other things, said cheer coach Jean Coker.

“This is the first year that I can truly say that this is one of the best groups I’ve taken to camp,” Coker said. “They stuck with it and really did well over those four days. Attitudes were great and they worked very hard.”

The girls were among 44 other teams, which amounted to about 800 cheerleaders, from all over the southeast.

“The environment can be a bit overwhelming, but they handled it well,” Coker said.

The varsity team won three gold superior ribbons during their skills evaluations and junior varsity won two gold superiors and one blue excellent ribbon during their skills evaluations.

The varsity team earned first place for Game Day Sideline, third place for Rally Routine, and fifth place for Overall Dance, Sideline and Cheer. Junior varsity earned the Overall Champions title for Game Day Sideline.

In addition, seven members of the teams were chosen as UCA All American Cheerleaders – three were from the junior varsity squad and four from the varsity squad. The All-American Cheerleaders are chosen by the coaches.

Coker said each coach picks cheerleaders from their teams that they feel are the best and then those girls tryout for the All-American team. Coker said being named an All American is the first step in becoming a UCA cheerleader.

“That’s the goal for a lot of our girls,” Coker said.

Coker said she and assistant coach Rachel Lovett are so proud of their accomplishments and how hard they worked.

“We are really looking forward to this upcoming season,” Coker said.