Blue Belles and Beaus Make It to the Biggest High School Cheerleading Championship of the Year

Story by C’Erra Andrews. Photo from FTPA Cheerleading Instagram.

MAR. 19, 2019: Friendship Tech Prep Varsity Blue Belles and Beaus cheerleaders made it into the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association). Our Belles and Beaus are making history at Tech Prep by being the very first cheer team to compete in the Ufit High School championships. These wonderful student athletes got the chance to stay in Charlotte North Carolina and get the HBCU experience. These ladies and gentlemen met cheerleading teams from Winston Salem State University, Saint Arkansas University and Virginia State University to talk about their experience and even about scholarships. The Belles and beaus are ready to take that next step to becoming trendsetters for Washington DC.

Before making the decision to compete in the CIAA, the Belles and Beaus had some doubts about how they see their community. On February 20th, FNN spoke with one of the official Blue Belles of Tech Prep, Nashay Jackson, and asked the question, “How do you think other squads or coaches look at your team?” Nashay responded, “Sometimes I feel like everyone doubts us because of our surroundings, where we live, and where we’re from. They don’t see the better in us. All the other teams “ghetto” where we’re located and think we’re too “ghetto” or “hood”.

Nashay also expressed how she and her team were not backing down for anything, no matter how much they were pinned down. Tech Prep has had many chances to be put on the map as far as athletics, but giving up is something our athletes will never do.

Throughout the ups and downs during the competition, the Belles and Beaus still represented Friendship very well. Along with the other athletes at Tech Prep, they have become tremendous trendsetters in Washington DC. We still want to encourage our Belles and Beaus as they make it to their last competition of the season which is with Powerhouse Spirit at Nationals on March 16th. These ladies and gentlemen are on the move and they’re headed straight to the top.

C’Erra Andrews is a 10th grade scholar at Friendship Tech Prep Academy.