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Spirits are high in Castle Rock
By Benn Farrell
Douglas County and Castle View will be at the state championship in spirit.
Spirit teams from both high schools in Castle Rock hit the state floor Dec. 5 at the Denver Coliseum in Denver. While the View has had a strong season, the Huskies have a championship title to defend.
Even though Castle View competes in other Class 4A divisions, the co-ed team faces County in the 5A meet.
County is in its third year of domination its sport. This season, its co-ed team won a third consecutive Continental League title, was first at regional competition Nov. 15 at the Denver Coliseum, eyeing the national stage. In fact, County hasn’t placed anywhere less than first in any of its competitions since its fourth-place finish at state three years ago.
“I’m hoping for back-to-back state championships,” Huskies coach Nicole Gambatese said. “Our team got better this year. We were good last year, [but] there is more tumbling and more difficulty in our stunts. ... Our kids aren’t nervous. They’re excited to show everybody what they have.
“We’re excited to hopefully have another undefeated season. ... The program has really grown in the last five years.”
Castle View hasn’t been far behind County this season and has had successes of its own. At the National Cheerleaders Association competition Nov. 22 at Chaparral High School in Parker, the Sabercats followed County’s first-place finish with a second-place win in co-ed. Chaparral was third.
At UCA regionals, where County was first in small co-ed, the View came in second in large co-ed behind Ralston Valley. In addition, the Sabercats won its Colorado Springs Metro League title this season.
Cats coach Heather Acampora has been coaching spirit teams for 13 years including Highlands Ranch and ThunderRidge.
“I know the sport, and I know Colorado cheer,” Acampora said. “I truly love my kids on my team, and I enjoy the sport. I think that is why we are doing so well.”
The View coach said her athletes work ethic and humility has also contributed to their season.
“A lot of the kids on my team work at a local job, go to church, make decent grades, and are mostly college bound,” Acampora said. “There are 10 boys on my team, and most played in a sport in the fall other than cheer - soccer, tennis, and football.”
County’s co-ed squad has 25 students, with a balance between upper and lower classmen, Gambatese said. Having become a dominating program, the coach said its nice having the older athletes keeping its younger ones focuses.
“The [older students] can help the younger kids understand that we want to be the show stopper; that we’re the real deal,” Gambatese said. “They also help show them how to work as a team and better themselves in practice.”
With two heavy hitting spirit teams in the hunt for a 5A co-ed title this season, a question of why Castle Rock has become such a bed for cheer talent comes up.
“There is not a magic reason why our small town has two of the top teams in the state, but we do,” Acampora said. “Both teams are very likely to be in the top four at state finals. Ralston Valley, Highlands Ranch, Chaparral and Air Academy are always in the top as well. Last year, Rampart and Sierra were also high up in the rankings.”
Gambatese said the talent in Castle Rock is growing, and it may be due to the coaching and choreography at both schools.
“Before I got to Douglas County High School, [the spirit teams] weren’t very recognized. [Acampora] has a lot of experience and has been around the area. ... It has helped our kids get to a better level.
“The focus has changed from just shaking your pom-poms to becoming more proactive about it becoming more of a sport.”
In the 5A co-ed division, Castle View takes the floor for performance at 5:24 p.m. Douglas County follows at 5:48 p.m. Performance times are subject to change. For the complete 4A and 5A state cheer schedules, visit the Colorado High School Activities Association Web site at www.chsaa.org.
Spirit teams from both high schools in Castle Rock hit the state floor Dec. 5 at the Denver Coliseum in Denver. While the View has had a strong season, the Huskies have a championship title to defend.
Even though Castle View competes in other Class 4A divisions, the co-ed team faces County in the 5A meet.
County is in its third year of domination its sport. This season, its co-ed team won a third consecutive Continental League title, was first at regional competition Nov. 15 at the Denver Coliseum, eyeing the national stage. In fact, County hasn’t placed anywhere less than first in any of its competitions since its fourth-place finish at state three years ago.
“I’m hoping for back-to-back state championships,” Huskies coach Nicole Gambatese said. “Our team got better this year. We were good last year, [but] there is more tumbling and more difficulty in our stunts. ... Our kids aren’t nervous. They’re excited to show everybody what they have.
“We’re excited to hopefully have another undefeated season. ... The program has really grown in the last five years.”
Castle View hasn’t been far behind County this season and has had successes of its own. At the National Cheerleaders Association competition Nov. 22 at Chaparral High School in Parker, the Sabercats followed County’s first-place finish with a second-place win in co-ed. Chaparral was third.
At UCA regionals, where County was first in small co-ed, the View came in second in large co-ed behind Ralston Valley. In addition, the Sabercats won its Colorado Springs Metro League title this season.
Cats coach Heather Acampora has been coaching spirit teams for 13 years including Highlands Ranch and ThunderRidge.
“I know the sport, and I know Colorado cheer,” Acampora said. “I truly love my kids on my team, and I enjoy the sport. I think that is why we are doing so well.”
The View coach said her athletes work ethic and humility has also contributed to their season.
“A lot of the kids on my team work at a local job, go to church, make decent grades, and are mostly college bound,” Acampora said. “There are 10 boys on my team, and most played in a sport in the fall other than cheer - soccer, tennis, and football.”
County’s co-ed squad has 25 students, with a balance between upper and lower classmen, Gambatese said. Having become a dominating program, the coach said its nice having the older athletes keeping its younger ones focuses.
“The [older students] can help the younger kids understand that we want to be the show stopper; that we’re the real deal,” Gambatese said. “They also help show them how to work as a team and better themselves in practice.”
With two heavy hitting spirit teams in the hunt for a 5A co-ed title this season, a question of why Castle Rock has become such a bed for cheer talent comes up.
“There is not a magic reason why our small town has two of the top teams in the state, but we do,” Acampora said. “Both teams are very likely to be in the top four at state finals. Ralston Valley, Highlands Ranch, Chaparral and Air Academy are always in the top as well. Last year, Rampart and Sierra were also high up in the rankings.”
Gambatese said the talent in Castle Rock is growing, and it may be due to the coaching and choreography at both schools.
“Before I got to Douglas County High School, [the spirit teams] weren’t very recognized. [Acampora] has a lot of experience and has been around the area. ... It has helped our kids get to a better level.
“The focus has changed from just shaking your pom-poms to becoming more proactive about it becoming more of a sport.”
In the 5A co-ed division, Castle View takes the floor for performance at 5:24 p.m. Douglas County follows at 5:48 p.m. Performance times are subject to change. For the complete 4A and 5A state cheer schedules, visit the Colorado High School Activities Association Web site at www.chsaa.org.
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