Fundraising efforts to send 19 cheerleaders from East High School to the NFL’s Pro Bowl this season are still about $10,000 short of the deposit amount, but spirits are high.
“Optimism is the best word to describe it,” said Terita Walker, cheering coach for East. “In most cases, people would have thrown in the towel by now, but if anything, people are putting their heads together even more now.”
East’s cheering squad, whose deposit is due in 2 1/2 weeks, was nominated to perform at halftime of the Jan. 30 nationally televised game after having received a ranking of “Superior” during a summer camp with United Spirit Association. The organization is one of two that host the Pro Bowl tours.
Even after the $22,000 deposit is made Nov. 12, the cheerleaders still need to raise another $20,000 for the final payment in December.
“I’ve done this for seven to eight years, and I don’t recall another year a school from Denver made it,” said Jodi Sweet, Pro Bowl tour director with United Spirit Association.
Sweet said most nominated schools are from California.
Cheerleaders hope their Pro Bowl performance gets them recognized and furthers their cheerleading goals.
During the trip, participants also receive coaching from professional and nationally recognized instructors.
“It looks really good on record if you want to pursue cheering,” said East sophomore Mariah Cladis. “I definitely want to go to college, and it would be amazing to be able to cheer in college.”
Cladis hasn’t decided what her college major will be, but she is interested in marketing and public relations.
Walker said she has high expectations of her team.
“We already discussed what they have to do in order to go because they will miss a day in school,” Walker said.
All cheerleaders received confirmation from their teachers that they were doing well enough in class.
Walker, who earned two master’s degrees while cheerleading for the Broncos and Nuggets, works as a guidance counselor at East.
“Terita is a wonderful role model. She is holding them to high standards,” said Cladis’ father, Tom.
He has been helping the girls raise money.
“I think this (Pro Bowl appearance) could be a highlight of their life,” he said.
Many of the East cheerleaders live on tight budgets and would be traveling for the first time, he said.
“It would help us reach out and represent for our school,” said cheerleader Ashton Walker-Curl. “I know I can get people involved.”
Walker-Curl received individual nominations to perform at the 2007 and 2008 Pro Bowls but was unable to go.
Now a junior, she’s optimistic she’ll make it to Hawaii.
“This is a special group of girls,” Tom Cladis said. “Denver can be proud of them.”
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372 or yrobles@denverpost.com
