By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

County champion Celebration will lead the local schools at the 2011 state cheerleading championships Friday and Saturday at Osceola Heritage Park.

Celebration recently won the Orange Belt Conference championship under Coach Lisa Gnapp.

The Storm will be one of three county teams that competes in Class A Friday at the state meet. Celebration, in the medium team competition, will perform at  2:20 p.m.

St. Cloud also competes in the Class A medium competition and will perform at 1:10 p.m. Poinciana, in the Class A non-tumbling division, will perform at 10:55 a.m.

Saturday, the Class 2A competition will see Harmony in the medium team competition at 10 a.m. Liberty (11:35 a.m.), Osceola (1:55 p.m.) and Gateway (3:05 p.m.) will compete in the Class 2A small co-ed division.

Admission to the state meet is $10; parking is $5.

Members of the Celebration team are Maddie Armington, Erynne Bowers, Lexie Fratesi, Jessica Johnson, Morgan Johnson, Megan Jones, Hannah Karkovice, Maggie Kemp, Meghan Lott, Meagon Lowe, Hallie Mattern, Julia Moriera, Lindsey Parnell, Ciara Pierson, Mia Saragusa, Kristi Simon, Aubrey Wade, Devon Yelverton and Jenna Young.

The assistant coaches are Lori Jones and Vanna Baker.

Following Celebration were Osceola, Liberty, Poinciana, St. Cloud, Gateway and Harmony.

Members of the Osceola squad are Brooke Basho, Caitlin Brunk, Trisha Davis, Ashley Dodenhoff, Marisa Gelinas, Miranda Granado, RoNiesha Hardee, Morgan Harris, Gerry Machado, Annie Martin, Holly Martin, Destiny Merckling, Clayton Moody, Kutrina Newark, Heath Rinkus and Keyaira Smith. The team’s coach is Coreen Flanegin, assisted by Monica Baker.

Liberty cheerleaders are Germine Amadis, Sara Beltz, Jayleene Bruno, Mallory Byers, Nicole Cabrera, Jose Candelario, Katherine Chacon, Patrina Dubreus, Sydney Elphage, Monika England, Amanda Gaffney, Natalia Garzon, Summer Hartig, Kacie Hooks, Tiyesha Johnson, Summer Lazzell, Anthony Lopez, Makana Macera, Rachael Robinson, Katelynn Sanchez, Yliana Santiago, Joshua Savoy, Crystal Serra and Diamond Williams.

The coach is Michelle Rowland, assisted by Kinisha Nixon Rice.

Poinciana’s fourth-place team includes Lauren Brost, Natalie Figueroa, Nicole Fuertes, Namita Hunjen, Naomie Jean, Alyssa Maldonado, Vanessa Marin, Solmaris Melo and Nicole Orrey. The team’s head coach is Victoria McDonald and the assistant coach is Shallondra Lomax.

St. Cloud cheerleaders are Jessica Brault, Riley Bronson, Maris Caruso, Haley Congrove, Jessica Duncan, Shannon Esford, Ashley Gomez, Justina Holstrom, Kelsey Mallott, Hailey Piana, Olivia Piana, Jessica Rodriquez, Airka Sanchez, Megan Shepherd, Jaclyn Swyers and Alex Weston. Bryana Dye is the head coach. The assistant is Diana Piana.

Gateway’s team has Samantha Arbonida, Sarah Betancourt, Daniela Catano, Jenelle DePasion, Luz Diaz, Carolyn Espinal, Kristina Flemming, Ashley Garcia, Michelle Giles, Dale Gozum, John Hopps, Janelle Kangaloo, Jasmyn Metcalf, TiffaniAmber Miller, Alexis Tavarez and Belinda Thayer.

Krista Knappins is the head coach, assisted by Kristin Huff.

Harmony High cheerleaders are Brooke Bocchinfuso, Kristen Bowen, Cassidy Donnarumma, Stephanie Enciso, Mandi Fischetti, Alyssa Keating, Betsy Meharg, Jeni Moody, Shannon Panico, Jenna Perez,

Mackenzie Petersen, Ashley Poulin, Christian Renda, Kacey Sparks and Tynisha Stallman. Head coach Danielle Curry is assisted by Courtney Devlin.

The all-OBC team:

Gateway: Belinda Thayer, Samantha Arbonida; Poinciana: Lauren Brost,        Namita Hunjen; Osceola: Ashley Dodenhoff, Holly Martin; St. Cloud: Jaclyn Swyers, Shannon Esford; Harmony: Christian Renda, Betsy Meharg; Liberty: Monika England, Summer Lazzell; Celebration: Alexis Fratesi, Megan Jones.

Coach of the Year: Lisa Gnapp.