CHAMPIONS!
Westcliff Cheer is Back on Top after Taking USA Title
By Brandon Petersen
They did it again.
And then, they did it again.
Two championship banners came home with the Westcliff Cheer team following Saturday's United Spirit Association Collegiate Championships at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Not only did Lina Rojas and Oscar Garcia become the first partner stunt pair in Westcliff history to become national champions, but the entire team reclaimed their national champion status after the Warriors won the Large Co-Ed Show Cheer Advanced competition.
What a weekend.
"We are so proud of our two partner stunt couples, Rheanna Shah and Christian Manzo and Lina Rojas and Oscar Garcia," Westcliff head coach Eric Anderson said. "This was our first time entering couples in this division.
"All-Americans Rheanna and Christian had a very difficult routine, but had one fall, still placing an impressive third."
Shah and Manzo made Westcliff Cheer history earlier this year when they became the first NAIA couple accepted to compete at the NCA finals in the spring.
They finished 19th overall in a field consisting entirely of NCAA D1 and D2 athletes.
On Saturday, it was Rojas and Garcia's turn in the spotlight.
"Lina and Oscar hit their routine, showing a lot of creative strength transitions, and won the division, once again making history," Anderson said.
The entire team has been focused all year at gaining back the national championship they lost a year ago.
This year, they upped the "wow factor" with a far more difficult tumbling routine, and it clearly paid dividends.
"Team tumbling is an area we have struggled with in the past," Anderson said. "Although we have really good, stand-out tumblers as a team, we have lacked in the numbers. But this year we have drastically improved in that area – as well as in our basket tosses!
"I also take a lot of pride in our pyramid section, because we should have a variety of structures that I feel are creative in our entries and dismount, and we involve the entire team."
Mark April on your calendars.
Daytona, Florida is the destination.
The goal is clear – recapture the crown.
Westcliff heads back to Florida in the spring to the NCA national championships.
If they can do what they did Saturday, they just might come home with the hardware.
"We are looking forward to this competition," Anderson said. "I feel we are well prepared and stronger than ever."