Honoring and recognizing Crispin Gardens Athletic Club Cheerleading Team for their hard work, determination, and success upon winning the 2018 National Championship in the Senior Recreation & Club Division at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Competition.

WHEREAS,

Crispin Gardens Athletic Club was established in 1961 as a non-for-profit athletic club to provide recreational sports programs to the community. The club provides programs in football, cheerleading, basketball, baseball and softball; and

WHEREAS, After a brief absence of cheerleading at the club, the program was brought back in 2001. The volunteer Directors were Dawn Bringhurst and Nanette Joyce. New to Rec cheerleading, the program started out slowly with approximately 40 girls cheering; and

WHEREAS, The 2006-2007 season was a turning point for the program with wins at multiple age groups at the North East Suburban Athletic Conference competition. The program grew increased interest, with more than 170 girls signing up to cheer each year; and

WHEREAS, The sport has become highly competitive and requires a tremendous amount of dedication and athleticism. In 2015 Crispin Gardens AC sent their first team to the National High School Cheerleading Competition run by Varsity/UCA, a premier cheerleading competition in the country; and

WHEREAS, In the first year the team placed won a Bronze Medal and could not have been happier with their success. The achievement led to having to hold try-outs because of the huge interest in the team. The caliber of athletes and dedication of the cheerleaders brought home Bronze Medals again in 2016 and 2017; and

WHEREAS, During the 2017-2018 season the girls and coaches worked harder than ever. They were taught skills seen at a high school level and they were ready to take the mat at Nationals on February 11, 2018; and

WHEREAS, “Hitting Zero” is a cheer term where you are given no deductions by the judges. It is the goal of every coach and team to have zero on their deduction sheet. The girls “Hit Zero” with a venue full of Philadelphia fans that shook the room; and

WHEREAS, The Crispin Senior Elite Cheerleading Team would claim the title of 2018 National Champions in the Senior Recreation & Club Division. Bringing home the National Championship in this division is a phenomenal accomplishment for the Northeast Philadelphia Community and will be a memory to last a lifetime; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and recognize Crispin Gardens Athletic Club Cheerleading Team for their hard work, determination, and success upon winning the 2018 National Championship in the Senior Recreation & Club Division at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Competition.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Crispin Gardens Athletic Club as evidence of the sincere admiration and support of this legislative body.

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