K-State cheerleaders compete in national cheer competiton

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Source: Al Enlow, 785-532-7983, aenlow@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Sara Shellenberger, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

K-STATE CHEERLEADERS COMPETE IN NATIONAL CHEER COMPETITION

MANHATTAN -- The cheerleaders from Kansas State University recently celebrated an exciting Wildcat victory -- their own.

K-State cheerleaders competed at the National Cheerleaders Association Collegiate Nationals April 3-7 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The squad finished eighth in finals after finishing seventh in preliminaries.

"NCA Collegiate Nationals is the equivalent of the NCAA for other sports," said Al Enlow, head coach of the K-State cheer squad. "Competing at nationals increases the visibility for our program so we can continue to bring in top-notch talent and true K-Staters. Our philosophy is, 'Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!'

"The K-State squad is not at the top yet but we hope to be soon. With all the enthusiasm K-Staters have for their university, why not give them another reason to be proud? The K-State cheerleaders are cheerleaders not only for our teams, but also for the university and all its associates," Enlow said.

Students involved in the competing cheer squad include:

Vince Garver, freshman in business administration pre-professional, Abilene; Dusty Allen, senior in life sciences, Centralia; Kelli Lair, junior in education-social studies, Chanute; Adam Johnson, senior in hotel and restaurant management, Elsmore; Zac Hilliker, freshman in pre-professional architectural engineering, Fort Riley; Van Tran, senior in electronic journalism, Garden City; Ramone Lowe, freshman in animal sciences and industry, Junction City; Aaron Knight, senior in humanities, Lyons; Jeff Simser, freshman in computer science, Manhattan; Anthony Heiman, senior in athletic training, Oketo; Ashley Smith, sophomore in marketing, Overland Park; Paige Venturella, sophomore in animal sciences and industry, Riverton; Madison King, sophomore in arts and sciences-open option, Wamego; and Brett Gibbens, senior in finance, and Holly Marshall, freshman in pre-health professions program, both of Wichita.

From out-of-state: Kristin Nettleton, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, Fairview Heights, Ill.; and James Bowen, sophomore in theater, and Brittany Loppatto, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, both of Plano, Texas.