The Blanco High School Varsity Cheerleaders, along with the Varsity Mascot, attended the Universal Cheerleader Association (UCA) Cheer Camp at the University of Texas in Austin from July 5th through the 8th, along with twenty-two other squads. The Varsity squad, consisting of Paxston Koehl and Callie Culton (senior captains), Katy Petri (senior), Danielle Oliver, Callie Nance, Ashlyn Stephens (juniors), and Abbie Culton, Payton Savarino, and Charsley Smith (sophomores) received Superior ribbons on their chants, cheer and xtreme dance evaluations. They also received a gold superior ribbon on their final xtreme dance evaluation, meaning they performed it perfectly. The squad received the Spirit Stick award, which is given at the end of each day at camp to teams that demonstrate teamwork in classes, four times.

The 2012-2013 squad also received the Top Banana (a large blow-up banana given during each spirit stick presentation ceremony which the squad signs). The banana recognizes one team as showing the most spirit and enthusiasm during the entire day.

The squad competed in the Camp Championships on the last day of camp. They performed their Camp Cheer and Camp Xtreme Dance routines and received Camp Champ 1st Place trophies for both routines. In addition, the Varsity Cheerleaders received the 1st Place trophy in the Home Pom Routine competition. The Home Pom is a dance routine that each squad creates and prepares individually and performs on the first night of camp. They are judged on choreography, motions/movement, visual effects, and the overall performance.

The most prestigious award, The Leadership Award, was awarded to the Blanco Varsity Cheerleaders. This award is voted upon by each team at camp (each squad is asked what team they would like to be a member of if they could not be on their own squad) and is given to the squad that made the camp experience special…if that squad was not at camp, camp just would not have been the same.

Kristin Watt, aka the

Champ the Panther

mascot, was awarded two excellent ribbons, two superior ribbons and one gold superior ribbon for daily evaluation. In addition, Kristin received the Superior Spirit trophy; this trophy recognizes the mascot who shows an increase in their overall abilities during camp.

Individual awards were also earned by Blanco Cheerleaders. All-American Medallions were presented to Paxston Koehl, Callie Culton, Katy Petri, Ashlyn Stephens, Danielle Oliver and Payton Savarino. Each squad can send six members to try out for UCA All-American Cheerleader. They are judged on their individual jump, All-American cheer, and xtreme dance routine. At this camp approximately 115 girls tried out and 30 girls were chosen to represent UCA in events throughout the year. Paxston, Callie, and Katy were invited to perform at the pre-game Capital One Bowl game in Florida on January 1, 2013. Ashlyn, Danielle, and Payton were invited to perform at The London New Year’s Day Parade.

Captains Paxston Koehl and Callie Culton were invited to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. In addition, Paxston received the Pin-It-Forward honor from UCA. This pin is given for demonstrating leadership, spirit, commitment, kindness and motivation to her squad and others.

There were a total of four cheerleaders from the entire camp invited to apply to become a Universal Cheerleader Association (UCA) Staff member. Three of these are Blanco Cheerleaders, seniors: Paxston Koehl, Callie Culton and Katy Petri.

This was an outstanding overall Camp for the Blanco Cheer squad. Please come and meet the 2012-2013 cheerleaders, along with the football and volleyball teams at

Meet The Panther Night

on Wednesday, August 22. The cheerleaders are anxiously awaiting the upcoming season and look forward to helping support the Blanco Panthers. Go Blanco!