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Bloomingdale Cheers Its Way To Another Championship

Tribune photo by JIM REED

Bloomingdale won the Large Varsity Division at the FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading Championships.

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By KATHERINE SMITH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 13, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - For as long as anyone on the team can remember, Bloomingdale's been known for its cheerleaders.

The Bulls added to that great tradition on Friday with its second-consecutive state title. Bloomingdale won the Large Varsity Division at the FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading Championships at the Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center.

Performing a two-minute, 30-second routine filled with gymnastics, stunts, dancing and cheering, Bloomingdale competed last among the six finalists. Riverview finished fourth and Newsome was fifth. Rounding out the finalists, Oviedo was second, Lawton Chiles was third and Lincoln was sixth.

Bloomingdale's finals performance reduced their coach Tracy DiPrima to tears.

Land O' Lakes also earned medals, finishing second in the Small Varsity Co-Ed Division. The Gators won that division last year. Choctawhatchee placed first with 449 points, 32 points better than Land O' Lakes.

Indian Rocks Christian finished second in the Small Varsity Division. The Eagles finished 57 points behind first-place Dr. Phillips High School.

Problems with the sound system caused delays throughout the day and even interrupted routines. Sunlake High School's music stopped in the middle of their routine in the semifinal round and after a rather lengthy delay to fix the problem, the team was able to finish.

Chamberlain was one of several teams that opted to do its routine again once the sound system was fixed.

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