- November 19, 2024
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Seabreeze hosted the Battle at the Beach cheer competition on Dec. 13 for the second consecutive year to a record number of 26 competitive teams and 10 exhibition teams from as far away as North Port High School, located south of Sarasota. The exhibition teams included the University of North Florida Ospreys and the Cheer Force All Stars.
The Sandcrabs walked away with three first-place trophies and the Grand Champion banner in the varsity co-ed game day non tumble division with 81.2 points.
This is Seabreeze cheer coach Megan Lambert’s third season coaching the team. The first year, they placed eleventh at the state championship. They made it to the final four last year, placing fourth.
“We have worked extremely hard,” she said. “What people don’t see is the amount of hours these kids put in at practice and outside of practice. I require every day conditioning on their own. They meet up with their teammates to stunt outside of practice and workout.”
Lambert currently holds practice at 6 a.m., but she will be transitioning to practice twice daily — before and after school — in January in hopes of securing the regional title.
“These kids are special,” she said. “They have bought into the program and have created a culture of excellence. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Amie MacDonald coaches with Lambert. It is her first year coaching at the high school level. She said the Seabreeze Cheer Boosters put a lot of hours into organizing the event, which allowed the coaches and teams to show up, compete and go home. The boosters handled the scheduling and procured judges, manned the door and put together a concessions booth and merchandise table.
These kids are special. They have bought into the program and have created a culture of excellence. I couldn’t be more proud of them. - Megan Lambert, Seabreeze cheer coach
Local businesses — Salty Beach Charcuterie Boards, S.R. Perrott, Inc., Five Star Pizza of Ormond Beach and Chick-fil-A of Ormond Towne Square — donated food for the participants, volunteers and people attending the competition in support of Seabreeze High School. DJ Tremble with The Vibe radio station donated his time emceeing, the Cheer Force All Stars lent their mats and Counter Productions transported equipment for the event.
“I’m excited that people came miles to compete at our small school on the beach,” MacDonald said. “We had our highest score of the season at our home competition, which is amazing. I am so proud of them. I am more proud of them as my kids than I am as my athletes. I’m a mom first.”
Grand Champions also included Pine Ridge (73.1 points) in the traditional category and Deland (81.3 points) in the varsity large co-ed game day division. Mainland (67.8 points) and Matanzas (66 points) placed first and second, respectively, in the varsity small non-tumble division. It was the Buccaneers’ first win in this division.
Jenece Giddens has been the cheer coach at Mainland for five years and 11 years in total. This is her team’s second year competing.
“We realize that you can be small, yet effective,” she said.
Other local winners were Spruce Creek High School in both the junior varsity game day large non-tumble and varsity super game day non-tumble divisions and Trinity Christian Academy in the varsity medium tumble division.
Seabreeze plans to host the event again in 2024.