Cheering before a packed crowd had always been a rush for Indian River High School freshman Veronica Townsend and sophomore Alyssa Murray, but on Jan. 3, the two traveled to Miami for an experience of a lifetime.
Coastal Point • RYAN SAXTON
Indian River cheerleaders Veronica Townsend, right, and Alyssa Murray, left, were selected to cheer in Jan. 3’s Orange Bowl pre-game festivities.
After attending a cheerleading camp last July at Salisbury University, Townsend and Murray were hand-selected to join 250 other guys and girls to perform in the pre-game ceremonies of the 2008 Orange Bowl, which saw a match-up between Kansas and Virginia Tech.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it before,” said Murray, “It was incredible.”
Although she has been involved in competitive dance and gymnastics for years, Murray began cheering just last year, which made the experience that much more gratifying.
Townsend, on the other hand, has engaged herself in competitive cheerleading since she was in fourth grade. But even she admitted that nothing has matched the excitement and thrill of this event – not even her performance in the 2006 NFL Pro Bowl.
“The Orange Bowl was so much fun,” Townsend said. “I had such a great time.”
At last summer’s cheerleading camp, the girls were nominated to perform an individual routine in front of judges who selected the top cheerleaders for the trip. Murray and Townsend were the only two from the entire state of Delaware chosen to be part of the Orange Bowl performance.
Over the four-day excursion, besides their eight hours of practice each day, they had the opportunity to see the Miami area, meet other cheerleaders and even catch a glimpse of rock legends Z.Z. Top during a rehearsal performance.
“The trip was fun because we had more free time to go out and do more stuff,” said Murray, who was even able to visit South Beach during her visit.
“Practices were intense,” said Townsend, “but it was still a lot of fun. We were doing something that we like doing and meeting people, so it didn’t always feel like practice.”
Cheerleaders from across the nation joined together for the event. Murray and Townsend found themselves talking to cheerleaders from California, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
“It’s a really good bonding experience,” said Townsend, “when you’re practicing with these people for hours and hours.”
“We made a lot of friends who we became closer with,” said Murray, “but not until the last day. I still keep in touch with some of them, especially over the Internet.”
The entire experience even helped bring Murray and Townsend closer together. The girls admitted they hardly knew each other until the summer. “Now,” said Murray, “we’re best friends. It was a great time.”
Funding for the trip itself was no easy task, as the NCAA did not accommodate the cheerleaders’ costs. Upon selection for the Orange Bowl performance, Murray sent letters to local businesses, who showed their support through generous donations.
“I wouldn’t have had the chance to go if it weren’t for them,” she said. “A lot of people really helped out.”
The entire trip was an extraordinary time for the two, despite Kansas toppling the Hokies.
“We really pulled for Virginia Tech,” said Murray. “When we got there, we bought a lot of Virginia Tech stuff, but, unfortunately, they lost,” added Townsend. “It was pretty sad.”
Now, both girls have their fingers crossed that they will get the opportunity to go back for the next Orange Bowl.
“I really want to do it next year if I get invited again,” said Murray.
Townsend said she also hopes to have the chance to return to Florida for next year’s game. The two plan to return to the training camp next summer and to tryout for the positions once again.
“I really like the competitive aspect of it, and it’s always been a lot of fun,” said Townsend. “It’s definitely something I want to continue to do through high school and in college.” She also remains active with field hockey and softball.
For her part, Murray uses cheerleading as an alternative means of exercise and enjoyment, as past ankle injuries have discouraged some gymnastics and dance performance.
“I really like cheerleading since I’ve started,” said Murray. “It’s a little easier on my ankles, and it kind of combines dancing and gymnastics — especially the tumbling aspects of it — and I really enjoy that. I like getting into the music, and cheerleading kind of brings all of that together.”
She also continues to stay sharp with her other passion, teaching dance at the Midcoast Gymnastics Studio in Selbyville.