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Orange Bowl cheerleading
After a season of celebratory sideline support for their respective youth football team, nearly 100 cheer and dance squads gathered at the Bank United Center on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables to compete in the Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance Cheer & Dance Championships, presented by Sports Authority.
The day fused the top 100 pop and hip-hop playlist of the last two decades with the competitive choreography performed by 1,100 girls, age 5-14, from throughout South Florida. Along with first thru third place accolades, teams earned trophies for the overall highest score and sportsmanship.
“[The Orange Bowl YFA] offers more competition than others,” said Coral Buxeda, head coach of the Doral Lady Broncos, who won first place and highest score award in the Mini-Small Division. “To see how the girls responded against so many teams is incredible.”
OBC Board Member and Assistant Chair of the Orange Bowl YFA, Gerald Grant, who has personal ties to the cheer and dance community, assisted in presenting the awards.
Grant said: “My daughter [who is now 26] was involved in middle school [cheerleading], and it helped develop her character and leadership skills. This is really what the Orange Bowl is all about, impacting the lives of young people.”
A smiling Jenny Aleman, 7, of the first place Tamiami Colts, said: “It’s not about winning. It’s about the team.”
Karshonda Spann, third-year head coach of the Miami Garden Ravens, winners of the Sportsmanship Award and first place for the medium PeeWee Division, said: “The competition gives the girls diversity and allows them to compete with a different amount of girls.”
RESULTS: GRAND CHAMPION: Miami Gardens Vikings (National Youth Football League).
MORNING SESSION: Overall High score: Doral Broncos (Miami Xtreme), Jr. Prep Medium. Spirit Award (Spirit and Sportsmanship): Miami Gardens Ravens (National Youth Football League). Special Needs: 1. Tamiami Colts (Miami Xtreme). Prep Division, Small: 1. Hialeah Cougars (Miami Xtreme); 2. Pompano Tigers (National Youth Football League). Prep Division, Medium: 1. Kendall Boys and Girls Club Kolts (Miami Xtreme); 2. Miami Gardens Ravens (National Youth Football League); 3. Miami Springs Hawks (Miami Xtreme). Jr. Prep Division, Small: 1. Western Communities Football League Varsity; 2. Coral Gables Cavaliers (Miami Xtreme); 3. Kendall Hammocks Warriors (Miami Xtreme). Jr. Prep Division, Medium: 1. Doral Broncos (Miami Xtreme); 2. Tamiami Colts (Miami Xtreme); 3. Miami Gardens Bulldogs (National Youth Football League). Pee Wee Division, Small: 1. Tamiami Colts (Miami Xtreme); 2. Miami Gardens Vikings (National Youth Football League; 3. Coral Gables Cavaliers (Miami Xtreme). Pee Wee Division, Medium: 1. Miami Gardens Ravens (National Youth Football League); 2. Kendall Hammocks Warriors (Miami Xtreme); 3. Western Communities Football League Prep. Mini, Small: 1. Doral Broncos (Miami Xtreme); 2. West Park Saints (Miami Xtreme); 3. Kendall Hammocks Warriors (Miami Xtreme). Mini, Medium: 2. Western Communities Football League Ultimate.
AFTERNOON SESSION: Overall High Score: Doral Broncos (Miami Xtreme) Semi Pro Medium. Spirit Award (Spirit and Sportsmanship): Doral Broncos (Miami Xtreme). Jr. Varsity Division, Small: 1. Helping Hands Bulls (National Youth Football League); 2. Northside Panthers (National Youth Football League); 3. South Kendall Gators (Miami Xtreme). Jr. Varsity Division, Medium: 1. Tamiami Colts (Miami Xtreme); 2. Miami Gardens Bulldogs (National Youth Football League). Varsity Division, Small: 1. Coral Gables Cavaliers (Miami Xtreme); 2. Hialeah Cougars (Miami Xtreme); 3. Miami Gardens Ravens (National Youth Football League). Varsity Division, Medium: 1. Tamiami Colts (Miami Xtreme); 2. Kendall Hammocks Warriors (Miami Xtreme). Semi Pro Division, Small: 1. Miami Springs Hawks (Miami Xtreme); 2. West Park Saints (Miami Xtreme); 3. Leisure City Modello (Miami Xtreme). Semi Pro Division, Medium: 1. Doral Broncos (Miami Xtreme); 2. Miami Gardens Vikings (National Youth Football League); 3. Miami Gardens Ravens (National Youth Football League). Semi Pro Division, Large: 2. Western Communities Football League Pro. Pro Division, Small: 1. Kendall Hammocks Warriors (Miami Xtreme); 2. Hialeah Cougars (Miami Xtreme). Pro Division, Medium: 1. Tamiami Colts (Miami Xtreme); 2. Kendall Boys and Girls Club Kolts (Miami Xtreme).



















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