By Gary Curreri
Approximately 130 cheer and dance squads recently competed in the Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance (OBYFA) Cheer & Dance Championships at the University of Miami’s Bank- United Center.
The day consisted of competitive choreography performed by the nearly 2,000 participating 4- to 16-yearold girls from throughout South Florida. With squads traveling from OBYFA parks, ranging from as far north as Lake Okeechobee to as far south as Key West, girls competed for first, second or third place in their respective divisions, top winner in both the morning and afternoon sessions and grand champion with the highest overall score.
There were also trophies handed out to the team with the most spirit and the team with the best sportsmanship. The top scholar athlete from each park was recognized as well. The Sports Authority presented the competition.
Orange Bowl Committee member and Chair of the Orange Bowl YFA, Gerald Grant Jr., who has personal ties to the cheer and dance community, assisted in presenting the awards.
“My daughter was involved in middle school and it helped develop her character and leadership skills,” Grant said. “This is really what the Orange Bowl is all about, impacting the lives of young people.”
The Deerfield Beach Packer Rattlers program (National YFL) took first and third in the Jr. Prep Division- Small (Cadets, first; Pee Wees, third), was second in the Mini Division – Medium (Bandits), and placed third in the Prep Division – Medium.
The Pompano Steelers (Glades Tri-City YFL) also captured three awards as it won the Sportsmanship Award for the Mini Division – Small, the Semi-Pro Division – Medium, and took second in the Pee Wee Division Small.
Flegel wins gold
Lighthouse Point’s Noah Flegel won a gold medal recently for the United States in the 10th IWWF Wakeboard World Championships recently in Busan, Korea.
Flegel, who won the gold medal in the Boys’ division at the 2011 world championships, won the gold medal in Junior Men, scoring 80.56 points in the finals. Australia’s Cory Teunissen (57.67 points) earned the silver medal and the Netherlands’ Marc Kroon (55.78 points) earned the bronze medal.
The U.S. Wakeboard Team earned the silver medal, and Flegel was one of four U.S. team members to earn individual medals in the event that included athletes and teams from 28 countries. Australia won the gold medal, while Korea earned the bronze medal.
Divisions for competition at the 2013 IWWF Wakeboard World Championships were as follows (all ages taken as of Jan. 1, 2013): Boys/ Girls (14 and Under), Junior Men/Junior Women (18 and Under), Masters Men/Masters Women (30 Years and Over), Masters 2 Men (40 Years and Over) and Open Men/Open Women (Open).
The United States has won world team titles in 2004, 2005 and 2011. Australia has won team titles in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2013. South Africa won the team title in 2001.
