Hudson, Land O’ Lakes, Ridgewood, Gulf make states
By Steve Lee
Sports Editor
WESLEY CHAPEL — The 3rd annual Best of Pasco competition on Dec. 5 showcased host Wiregrass Ranch and made that school’s cheerleading coach proud.
“It gives us a chance to have it in our building,” said Dawn Weatherby, the Bulls’ second-year coach. “You can show off a little bit.”
Wesley Chapel hosted the inaugural Best of Pasco in 2007 when cheerleading became an official sport sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletic Association. Ridgewood was last year’s host.
At stake were four state tournament berths with Hudson claiming the top prize. Runner-up Land O’ Lakes, Ridgewood and Gulf rounded out the top four overall teams. They will compete at the state tournament Feb. 5-6 in Kissimmee.
“I’m a perfectionist. I love coaching cheerleading,” said Hudson coach Pennye Garcia, who also has coached at Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake.
Phil Bell, the county’s athletic director who presented trophies to the top teams, lauded Garcia as teams celebrated in the Wiregrass Ranch gym.
“Pennye Garcia does a phenomenal job,” he said.
In addition to the overall competition, there were winners in three categories. The top three girls varsity teams were Hudson, Land O’ Lakes and Gulf; the top two co-ed squads were Ridgewood and Wesley Chapel; and Mitchell won the junior varsity title.
In the first year as an FHSAA-sanctioned sport, Pasco County sent its 12 public schools to the state series. Since last year, however, that prestigious tourney is limited to the top four squads the from Best of Pasco event.
“This is really like our playoff system,” Bell said.
“I like the way it’s set up now, because you’re sending the best of the best to state,” said Weatherby, who like the four judges and county coaches is certified by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches Association.
Weatherby, who previously spent 10 years coaching cheerleading in the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association, pulled double duty with club and high school cheerleading last year. This season, however, her focus is solely on the high school program with help from junior varsity coach Nicole Minott.
Weatherby summed up the competition by saying, “Cheerleading is about striving for perfection, but never getting it.”
