News Story 2nd Draft*

Cassie Lyne
English11 A12
10/25/2009
Project3: New Story
2nd Draft

The Fall River Spirit
Falcons Cheerleaders Are Ready For A Fight!!

The Pop Warner Fall River Falcons team is back! Last year there was a shortage of girls and boys willing to play football and cheer, forcing the Fall River team to join with the Sakonnet Schooners(another Pop Warner team in the league). The Falcons have made a full recovery this year with four football teams and two cheerleading squads. The Mighty Mite football team and Cheerleading squad range from ages 6 to 8. The Jr. Peewee football team ranges from ages 8 to 10, depending on the weight of the child, and the Peewee football team ranging from 10-12, also depending on the weight of the child. The oldest group is the Midgets, the football team and Cheerleading squad range anywhere from ages 11 to 15. The Midget cheerleading squad, with such a wide age group or cheerleaders was said to be a challenge for everyone to come together and work hard as a team. The girls have a huge coaching staff. The head coach, and two assistant coaches have been cheerleading for most of there lives. They also have Coach Dorie 37; a dedicated coach who has been in with Pop Warner for over 7 years. From practicing everyday in the month of August to only three days a week in September and October the coaching staff is pleased with the progress the team has made so far and can not wait for there skills to be put to the test.

The squad is anticipating an upcoming RISMA competition on October 26th 2009. RISMA stands for Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts which means the Falcons will be competing against squads from all over these two states. If the team places 1st or 2nd in this competition they will move onto a Regional Competition competing against a wider range of teams who have also placed high in there local meets. Its crunch time for these girls with only a few practices left before the big Competition. The following is an interview with one of the Midget Fall River Falcons cheerleaders for the inside scoop.

Courtney Cabral, Age 12 of the 7th grade in Morton Middle School, Fall River,
This would have been Courtney’s third year cheerleading for Pop Warner but was forced to take a year off when the Fall River Team was joined with Sakonnet.
Courtney was asked how she felt when she was told that Fall River was back to having there own Pop Warner team again.
Courtney Responded: “I was excited to finally cheer again, I love cheerleading and I was very disappointed when I couldn’t cheer last year.”
She was then asked how she feels about the teams overall progress
Courtney Responded: “I think the squad has come a long way especially myself, It is hard with the older and younger girls mixed together but it is great when we can work together, and teach each other.”
“Are there any arguments between the girls, and lack of cooperation in terms of taking things seriously.
Courtney Responded: “The teams does have problems some of the girls don’t always come to practice or are always joking around, and being silly it’s not fair to the girls who are there because they want to look good, and place in Competition.
“How do you feel as a cheerleader your team will do in the upcoming RISMA conference”
Courtney Responded: “I think our team has come a long way girls have gotten hurt, girls have quit but in the end I think we can all pull together and put on a good show we have the potential and the routine to place its all in how we sell it”

The RISMA conference will be held at Portsmouth High School, in Portsmouth, RI on October 26th, 2009 at 4:30PM if anyone is interested in going and supporting the cheerleaders.