Aug. 31, 2001

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State University Cheerleaders and Sundancers have recently attended the National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance summer collegiate camp, where both teams showed strong promise by winning several events and competitions.

The competition was held at the University from July 30 to Aug. 4.

The Southeast Cheerleaders won the prestigious 'Most Collegiate Squad' award, which is voted on by the NCA staff. The squad also won the co-ed division 'Fight Song' competition and an automatic bid to the national championship competition held in Daytona Beach, Fla. They accumulated four superior blue ribbons and a spirit stick. Rachel Pointer, a co-captain of this year's squad, was named as the camp's sole All-American Cheerleader.

"I'm extremely proud of what our team accomplished during camp. We met and exceeded all of our goals. This is a very young team. It should be a great year," said Nancy Greaser, coach of the Southeast Cheerleading Squad.

The Southeast Sundancers did equally as well earning several top awards. The group won the coveted 'Best All Around' squad of the entire dance camp. They too earned an automatic bid to the national dance team championships in the spring. Individually, the Sundancers have three All Americans - returning dancer Heather Cook and newcomers Manda Hill and Kate Bryan. They also had success in the individual 'Top Gun' competitions, winning all three divisions: Heather Cook for "Leaps and Turns", Kate Bryan for "Kicks" and Chela Rutlin for "Funk."

"I'm extremely excited to be entering a program with a highly talented group of girls. We are all looking forward to the upcoming year," said first year Sundancer Coach Amber Martin.