Jan. 20, 2004
For Immediate Release
To: News Directors and News Editors
From: Veronika Avery, Coordinator of Media Relations, 342-5444

ULM CHEERLEADERS BRING HOME NATIONAL TITLE

The University of Louisiana at Monroe is now home to a National Championship Cheerleading team. The 19-member ULM team won first place in national competition over the weekend. The ULM cheerleaders placed first in the Small Co-Ed Division I competition.

The cheerleaders traveled to Orlando, Fla. January 15-19, to compete in the Universal Cheerleaders Association's College National Cheerleading Championship. This is the first year the ULM team competed.

The team's coach, Jennifer Hyde, said, "This is a wonderful experience for everyone on the team. Everyone worked so hard for this. The team really focused this year and became committed to being one of the premier Division I cheerleading programs in the nation. We have accomplished that and are very proud."

The ULM Cheerleaders are composed of one squad, including male and female members. The squad carries twenty-four members and is responsible for cheering at all football games and home basketball games. In addition to the university-related activities, the ULM Cheerleaders are committed to competing at one of the major national cheerleading competitions during each season.

Members of the national championship team and their hometowns are: Treva Bankston - Loranger, LA, Carley Carter - Jena, LA, Lori Chervenak - Hillsboro, MO, Nick Gaspard - Plain Dealing, LA, Samantha Jones - Rayville, LA, Alex Kain - West Bend, WI, Crystal Kelley - Crossett, AR, Rebecca LeBlanc - Baton Rouge, LA, Nathan LeCloux - Pulaski, WI, Josh Lee - Waukesha, WI, Hayley Leone - Bossier City, LA, Crystal Lett - West Monroe, LA, Tiffany Luse - West Monroe, LA, R.B. Martin - Benton, LA, Kelly Patterson - Houston, TX, Billie Sue Roe - Appleton, WI, Robin Samuels - Apple Valley, MN, Ashley Springfield - Monroe, LA, and Jamie Ventrella - Pride, LA.

The Cheerleaders are coached by Jennifer Hyde, Coordinator of Spirit Groups, and Trey Griffin.

For more information contact Jennifer Hyde, at 5293 or at hyde@ulm.edu.

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