Jumping, Tumbling and Cheering in Wayland

Twenty-six girls on Saturday got the chance to tumble, dance, cheer and even fly during a Cheerleading Clinic put on the Wayland High School varsity cheerleaders.

Saturday’s clinic was a first for varsity coach Meghan Connor and her squad, but she said the successful event left her looking forward to doing it again.

The event raised money for the Wayland High School varsity squad, the 2011 DCL champions, to purchase gear and choreography.

“It’s been fun,” Connor said Saturday, as her cheerleaders helped the young cheerleaders prepare for an end-of-clinic performance. ”I like to get more of the community involved and bring the sport to the Town of Wayland.”

The clinic participants, girls from ages 4-13, spent the day rotating through various stations where they worked on their cartwheels, learned dance and cheer routines, and even learned a little about stunting, the pyramids cheerleaders build during performances (that's where the flying came in).

“The connection being made now between the young girls and the high school girls is great,” said volunteer Sandra Brennan whose daughter is on the varsity squad. She said she hoped the clinic would encourage young girls to get involved in the Pop Warner cheerleading program. “Cheerleading offers a way to be in shape and learn the eight-count in dance.”

The clinic took place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and the length of the day is the only thing Connor said she might alter for the next clinic.

“Overall, it worked out well,” she said. “I’m pretty pleased with how it went.”