The Valpo Pop Warner Cheerleading team is headed back to the national finals in the Midget division, with their final routine of the season set for the national stage on December 13 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
The Viking cheerleaders of the same age division made it to Disney World last year as well, after taking home first place in both the District and Regional competitions.
Composed of only seven members from the age of 12-14, head coach Lori Staack is stoked about her 2013 team's chances of winning it all this year.
"We can do it," Staack said. "We have that good of a team and a routine."
The Vikings recently came in first in both the District and Regional competitions to secure their spot amongst only a handfull of other teams in Florida.
"They are phenomenal," Staack said of her team. "It is amazing how good we are with only seven members." Last year's national qualifying team had 12 members - the maximum number allowed for a team competing in the "small" division.
The Valpo team's routine includes music, dancing, cheers, stunts and gymnastics - all in a 2 minute, 15 second time frame. This year, the routine ends by holding up a Valpo Vikings banner that was donated by Blythe's Sporting Goods.
One of the seven members of the team and the only boy, Kyle Johnson, joined Valpo Pop Warner after just missing the weight-cut for the Portage Pop Warner football team.
"He has never cheered before this year, but you would never know it," Staack said. "He has been a great addition to our team."
The most experienced cheerleader this Valpo squad has is Staacks's daughter, Baylee, who is now 14 years old but has been cheering since she was 5. Two first-year cheerleaders, including Johnson, are also part of the bunch.
In addition, three team members: Johnson, Austyn Prytel and Arielle Malavolta are past scholarship winners for academic performance.
Other members of the team are Alexis Elkins, Kailey Humphrey and Allie Malavolta. Assistant coaches are Stacey Staack, Nicholle Staack and Kelly Fuscoe.
To help the Valpo Pop Warner Midget team get to Disney, a pancake breakfast will be held on Saturday, November 30 for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, at 108 Indiana Ave. in Valparaiso. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children. A 50/50 raffle, silent auction and an iPad raffle will highlight the event.
Sponsors are also being sought to fund the team's second consecutive Disney trip. For $250, a sponsor will get their name on T-shirts that will be made as well as on the Valpo Pop Warner website and Facebook page, which can be found by searching ValpoCheer.
Staack says she hopes to have all participating sponsors signed up by Wednesday, November 20.
"The kids practice three times a week and have a game each week as well," said Staack, who is in her 20th year of coaching the Valpo team. "The road to Disney is a difficult one, and for us to accomplish this with a team of just 7 is really awesome."
