Costa Mesa High cheerleaders capture regional title

The Costa Mesa High cheerleaders won the Southern California Regional title in their division at the Universal Cheerleaders Assn. competition that took place this past weekend.

The Costa Mesa girls earned first place in the large varsity non-tumbling division, bringing home the trophy and championship banner. They also received a bid to the National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Fla.

The team also won in the Time Out dance division. This season, Costa Mesa has won three division titles (Sharp, Golden State Spirit Assn. and UCA).

Costa Mesa competes in a tough division, said Kori Johnson the CMHS cheer advisor and coach. Costa Mesa had finished second behind Santa Monica by one point in each of the past two years. The Costa Mesa girls were overwhelmed when it was announced they were champions, Johnson said.

UCA is known as the most prestigious cheer competition in the nation, Johnson said. In the world of cheer, Costa Mesa’s accomplishment was like winning a CIF title, she said.

The Costa Mesa cheerleaders are seeking help from the community to help raise money to travel to Orlando and compete at Nationals, Johnson said.

The Costa Mesa cheerleaders are: seniors Courtney Hatch, Alyssa Dasca, Taylor Jones, Natalie Fowler, Megan Settles, Lexi Stroman, Jordan Weir, Selena Arreola, Adriana Rodriguez and Emily Strodel; juniors Alyssa Lopez, Laura Vaugeios, Jazzy Jaime, Olivia Levalley, Allie Ross and McKenzie Soldin; sophomores Shannon McCormick, Alexis Dasca, Alexis Lomeli, Francesca Bertella, Karly Brumbaugh, Lea Mitani and Rachel Keane; freshmen Andrea Ross, Kate Piatti and Paige Labare.

In addition to Johnson, CMHS has Frank Molina (assistant) and Maria Cabande (competition coach) on staff.

— Steve Virgen