A dozen-year dream for Coach Lynnese Edmund is finally coming to fruition for the Poughkeepsie Pioneers Cheer Squad-- and she has 13 very special young ladies to thank for that... but they need our help to get there!
The Poughkeepsie Pioneers Varsity Cheer Squad is scheduled to compete in the Small Varsity Division II Non Tumbling Game Day branch of the competition, with preliminary rounds scheduled for Saturday, February 8th, 2025 at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship Competition at Walt Disney World Resort just outside of Orlando, Florida. This is a huge event in the Cheer World and a very prestigious for the Pioneers... however (as you can imagine) it is very expensive for these young ladies and we're asking the community to support their efforts!
Alysia Green, parent of a Pioneers' Assistant Coach, wants everyone to know why this is so important to not only the girls on the team, but the community as a whole: "We live in a community that is overcome by poverty, drugs, gun violence, and homelessness. Our children lack the support needed to be successful." Alysia went on to say that "the girls have worked very hard to earn this opportunity" and "there are a handful of people who always show up and help, but unfortunately we fall short too often."
Alysia wrapped up her email by saying, "Please help our BEAUTIFUL young cheerleaders at Poughkeepsie High School!" and we'd love for our community to get behind these ladies!
How'd they get the bid?
Rules state that 75% of the qualifying team had to attend a Varsity Spirit camp and participate in the Squad Credentialing program in order to be eligible to compete. In addition, the team needed to receive a bid at a 2024 qualifying UCA regional event for the 2025 NHSCC... and guess what, Poughkeepsie earned that at the UCA Empire Regional Competition at Iona University in New Rochelle on December 15th!
“Ultimately, this was a goal. But, you had to start with getting them to compete,” said Coach Edmund in a release from Poughkeepsie High School. “We started out by building a team and just competing locally, and then from there just the past two years we went to camp.”
The key, assistant coach Za’ire People said, will be “continuously performing up to standards.” Amid the excitement, they’ll need to “perform at a higher level underneath all of the lights and the audience and the judges, still do what they know and trust their cheer instincts in order for them to accomplish their goal and come home with something.”
Good luck to the Poughkeepsie Pioneers, we're proud of what you accomplished so far and we're rooting for you!
