"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Sequoyah Cheerleader Earns All-American Title

"Tes Hardison, Sequoyah Cheerleader named All-American
by the NCA!"

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – Cheerleading is off to a good start at Sequoyah Schools. One of the school’s varsity cheerleaders recently earned the title of All-American cheerleader while attending the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) cheerleading camp in Dallas, Texas. In addition to the honor of being named All-American, Sequoyah Senior Tes Hardison will have the opportunity to perform at half-time of either the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, or the Honolulu Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“It was one of my main goals in cheerleading to make All-American before I graduated,” said Hardison. “It was hard to find time to practice for All-American try-outs with everything else that we had to do at camp. They taught us so much stuff and I had to practice the try-out routine on top of that.”

Hardison’s diligence and hard work paid off when the camp was final and NCA staff announced All-American winners. Nine other Sequoyah cheerleaders were also nominated for All-American. They are Cassie Smith, Shelby Blossom, Monte LaRoque, Joe Hiers, Marissa Hamilton, Samantha Snell, Holly Staten and Sunni Gonzales.

The squad also earned an invitation to compete in the NCA National competition in Dallas this December. The competition is invitation-only and squads earned it based on their performance at camp.

“I am very excited about this years' squad,” said Bonnie Griffin, Sequoyah cheer coach. “We have fewer members than we've had in previous years, but much more talent. These kids worked hard all summer to develop their tumbling and other skills. I'm looking forward to a great year with this group of boys and girls.”

Hardison, 17, of Tahlequah, is the granddaughter of Margie and Bud Hardison and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

The Sequoyah varsity cheerleading squad will compete in the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) regional competition on Saturday, September 15. The location is still to be determined.

Sequoyah Schools, a boarding school for Native American students, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans who came out of the Civil War. It has since served as the Sequoyah Orphan Training School and the Sequoyah Vocational School. Now known as Sequoyah Schools, it is named for Sequoyah, the scholar who developed the Cherokee syllabary. In November 1985, the Cherokee Nation assumed the operation of Sequoyah. It is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 students every year.

For more information about Sequoyah call, phone: 918-453-5400 and visit the Sequoyah School web site.