Cheerleaders Put on a Show for City Council

Like a breath of fresh air, the Canoga Park High School cheerleading squad blew through the Los Angeles City Council chamber Friday with a show of youthful energy that made city leaders momentarily set aside fusty policies and bureaucratic logjams.

As council members watched, the 18-member co-ed team members performed part of the gravity-defying routine that recently won them two national championships. Three cheerleaders were hoisted up so that they stood upright on three others’ hands, raised overhead. Other cheerleaders were tossed high into the air, where they did the splits.

“I’m proud to introduce the Canoga Park High School cheerleading team, the national champions who this year broke all-time records by winning two championships in one day,” said City Councilwoman Laura Chick, shortly before presenting a certificate of recognition to the team.

On March 18, the team competed in two back-to-back national championship events, the Miss Drill Team USA Championship in Long Beach and, a few hours later, the USA National Championship in Anaheim. Team coach Carolyn Purkey, a former cheerleader and a Canoga Park High graduate, recalled that the team had a hard decision in choosing whether to compete in both contests, knowing that each one would be grueling.

“Was it worth it to possibly not win either one, and go for both? We decided to go for both,” she said.

The team beat 24 others from throughout the United States to win the USA Nationals. As a result of winning the Miss Drill Team event, the squad received a free trip to Japan, where it will compete in a world championship contest in August.

Team members said they were excited about winning the national award.

“I love winning,” said team co-captain Jeff Mramor, 17. “It’s the best feeling in the world. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Hard work and perseverance were the key ingredients in the team’s success, said Jeff, adding that he and fellow members practiced for six hours a day, three days a week, on the road to the nationals.

“When you hear about youth these days, it’s all negative. But it’s important for people to know that there are a lot of good things happening, that there are young people who want to do positive, good things,” Purkey said.