CANYON COUNTRY : Cheerleading Team Headed to Nationals

Twenty-five Canyon High School cheerleaders, whose team was the subject of a bitter dispute that led to a lawsuit by a former coach, will compete in the National Cheerleading Assn. championships Dec. 27-30 in Dallas, faculty adviser Julia Howelman said Monday.

It is the first time the school has won the right to compete in the nationals since it was founded in 1969, she said.

“The girls are quite thrilled to receive this honor--especially after what had happened before at our school,” she said, referring to an uproar over the selection of team captains by the school’s previous cheerleader coach, Cynthia Wheat.

The controversy led to a telephoned death threat against a vice principal and is the subject of a claim against the school district, and a lawsuit against six cheerleaders’ parents by Wheat, who alleged she was falsely accused of trying to seduce a 15-year-old boy.

The controversy prompted Santa Clarita school district officials to consider disbanding the squads.

At the national championships, 100 high schools from across the United States will participate in competition that includes dance and gymnastics, Howelman said.

The varsity and junior varsity squads will compete.

“It’s very unusual for a school to send two teams to the nationals,” she said.

The varsity squad of 12 seniors and juniors, led by senior Stacey Irvin, and the junior varsity squad of 13 sophomores were selected by judges during competition at an association regional camp in July at San Diego State University. The team’s assistant adviser is Maria Rodriguez, a former Los Angeles Rams cheerleader.