The cheerleading team of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria was named National Grand Champion March 4 at the Christian Cheerleaders of America (CCA) National Championships in Fayetteville, N.C.
The Cardinals won top honors in both the music and non-music categories and were named the 2017 CCA National Grand Champion. This was their second consecutive championship and a record-breaking year. The team received the highest recorded score in the history of the CCA. This year’s routine was the most difficult they have executed and included moving pyramids, elite one-man stunts and college level tumbling.
The team of 20 girls is led by head coach Angela Hope-Eskew and assistant coach Whitney Cook along with captains Eleanor Burling and Karson Lyon.
The Cardinals practice eight months of the year and perform at all home football and basketball games, pep rallies and other schoolwide events.
The girls maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and are committed to community outreach. Each fall they participate in the Best Buddies Walk at George Mason University in Fairfax. They also lead a cheer clinic at Ireton for more than 130 local elementary school girls. In January, they host the annual Winter Blast competition for local cheer teams from the WCAC.
