Lightning from Mount Laurel Cheerleading Association, a local recreation team, is proud to announce that their team has been selected to compete at one of the nation’s most prestigious events just for youth and recreation teams, The Quest Recreational Championship, produced by Varsity Spirit.
The Quest, to be held at Walt Disney World Resort’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex March 13 and 14, will be the season-capping goal for many competitive youth and recreation teams. The inaugural Quest Championship will showcase teams from more than 24 states and will include performances in The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, the first facility in the world designed specifically for cheer and dance competitions.
Lightning from Mount Laurel Cheerleading Association earned their bid to The Quest at a Varsity Spirit qualifying event earlier this season. With 40 Varsity Spirit event producers offering youth/rec divisions at more than 150 events, teams had several opportunities to compete close to home.
Coach Alexa Small said “For our team, this opportunity means everything. This is our 20th anniversary season. Since our establishment in 2000, our mission has ben to offer the fundamentals of cheerleading with teamwork and dedication in a fun and competitive atmosphere. The talent, commitment and experience of our coaching staff and associated tumbling instructors, along with the dedication and support of our volunteer Board of Directors and MLCA families, create the spirit and success of our program. Over the past few years, our organization has been transitioning to use levels vs. ages for team placement, which we know is vital to stay competitive as a team. We have great families who have stuck with us through the transition. This year’s Lightning squad has more than half of the team comprised of new athletes to cheer. The coaches, realizing the level of potential on the squad, set ‘The Quest’ on the table as a goal and the team did not stop growing and improving until they made it happen. This opportunity is a dream turned reality and the athletes could not be more excited!”
Small added: “As a non-profit organization, fundraising for the trip is vital and will be a huge help to get our athletes and chaperones to Florida. So far, we have received a lot of support from friends, family and local businesses and we are beyond blessed to have others invested in our success. We are still raising money through GoFundMe.”
“Creating opportunities for athletes at every level is very important to us,” says Bill Seely, President of Varsity Spirit. “The Quest Recreational Championship gives us the chance to highlight the talent of these young people and celebrate the spirit they bring to their communities.”
Rec cheer and youth organization teams are eligible to compete at The Quest. Fans at home can watch a livestream of the event on Varsity TV on varsity.com.
To contribute to the Mt. Laurel cheerleaders’ GoFundMe account, click here.
Learn more about youth/rec cheerleading at mtlaurelcheer.org.
