South Lakes Cheerleaders Ready For First Regional Appearance

Senior cheerleader Naimah Coleman says she could tell since late summer that this could be the year.

"I have been saying since the start 'this is our year!' " said Coleman. "We've had that teamwork. I don't think we could have gotten as far if we did not blend well."

That teamwork shows in competition, where the Seahawks finished third in last weekend's Liberty District finals to earn a spot in the Northern Regionals this Saturday at

This is the first time in school history that South Lakes has advanced to the regionals, says cheerleading coach Becky Slaight.

Other area teams in the regionals: Fairfax, Herndon, Stone Bridge, Chantilly, West Springfield and South County. Doors open at 4:30 for the 5 p.m. competition. The top four teams in the region will advance to the state finals Nov. 12 at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

Slaight says that she has changed up her coaching style a bit this season.

"We have stressed that every time you hit the mat, it counts," says Slaight, who has coached at South Lakes for eight years. "It counts whether you are here at practice or in front of hundreds of people. It is a different mindset."

In fact, performing in front of crowds - and learning to get past nerves - is something the Seahawks have been working on all season. Slaight says she will often grab other athletes hanging around near the school gym to make an impromptu audience during practice of the two-and-a-half minute cheerleading routine.

Also what has changed for the program, which has six seniors, is the addition of several younger tumbling specialists and two male cheerleaders, Eric O'Brien and Kyle Norfleet.

Norfleet, a senior, formerly donned the suit as Simore the Seahawk, the school mascot, at games. O'Brien, a junior,  comes to cheerleading from a theater background, and Slaight says he has helped a lot with the team's spatial awareness and stage presence.

It is the first time since Slaight has been with the program that boys have been on the squad, and the coach says it has added a new dimension - as well as louder  vocals - to the group.

"We don't want to go back to not having them," she says. "Their overall confidence has helped the girls. Already three or four more boys have expressed interest for next season, she said.

In the meantime, the cheerleaders are working hard to get their routine perfect for Saturday.

"I am a little nervous," says senior Sara Dalsheim. "But I am so excited. I am so proud of our team."