Submitted photo
After earning first place at the 2011 Charles County Cheerleading Competition, the Southern Maryland Youth Association Hawks cheerleading program from Bryans Road, debuted its competitive squad, the Lady Hawks-Shadow Force.
During their inaugural season, the Lady Hawks competed in five major competitions and finished their season with a national championship at the Cheer and Dance Extreme Grand Nationals in Virginia Beach, Va.
Squad participants were chosen from the football season’s middle school-aged cheer squad, based upon three criteria of serving as a positive role model in the community, good academic standing and good citizenship in school.
The Lady Hawks also committed to perform community service and helped collect nonperishable items to restock the Southern Maryland Food Bank.
Other Lady Hawks-Shadow Force accomplishments included a second-place finish at the American Cheer and Dance Academy’s Maryland Cup, a second-place finish at American Cheer and Dance Academy’s Reach the Beach Nationals in Ocean City, a first-place win at Spirit Unlimited’s UMBC Challenge and a first-place finish at Cheersport’s Baltimore Grand Championships.
The Lady Hawks have finished out their season in March ranked No. 10 in the nation among all recreational cheerleading squads by the U.S. Finals Cheer and Dance Competitions.
SMYA Lady Hawks-Shadow Force squad members are Leanna Ashton, Donielle Barnett, Akeirra Burks, Ebony Campbell, Taylor Chisolm, Aja Johnson, Tyra Mason, Mallory Mathes, JaNia McCloud, Shawnee Mills, Nikaiya Mitchell, Eve Moten, Maya Moten, LaChea Porter, Nia Spann, Corlise Taylor, Raegan Thomas, Jasmine Walls, Kendall Williams, Maya Williams and Ebony Vanzego. Coaches are Jenee Greenwood, Jeda Greenwood, Lori Jordan and Tanya Barnett.
For more information on the SMYA Lady Hawks, go to www.smyahawks.org.