Conference should be show-stopper: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 15 Sep 2006:
Longwood cheerleading has accomplished pretty much everything. It has won six national championships in the past 19 years and was named national team of the year in 2005.
And tomorrow, it is taking a major step to try to help cheerleaders in the tri-state area reach similar heights.
Longwood is hosting Long Island’s inaugural cheerleading conference at its high school from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donna Roenbeck, who is in her 20th year as Longwood‘s cheerleading coach, said she is expecting more than 2,000 participants. Admission is $5 and is open to cheerleaders of any age.
“This is just a dream for me,” Roenbeck said. “I’ve wanted to do this since I attended my first National Coaches Conference. The level of cheerleading on Long Island is already very good, and this will help it even more.”
The conference will begin with a speech from Dixie Stanforth, an editor at Shape Magazine. Stanforth’s talk will be about nutrition and hydration.
Participants then will have the opportunity to take up to six one- hour classes on a variety of topics.
“We’re really going to have something for everyone,” Roenbeck said. “All levels will have something to choose from.”
Examples of classes being offered are advanced stunt, how to excite the crowd and competitive choreography.
“This is a celebration of cheerleading, not a competition,” Roenbeck said. “We believe cheerleading is a sport and that our girls are athletes.”
