“Magical” was the word cheerleading coach Melanie Ross used to describe the trip she, seven All-American cheerleaders, and five moms, went on last week to Hawaii. According to Ross, the girls need a certain score to be All-American, which they get by trying out at camps both near home and in the Twin Cities. This year the girls really outdid themselves and all seven who tried out, won the honor of “All-American,” which also qualified them to join the Pearl Harbor Memorial parade on December 7, 2022 which runs along Waikiki Beach, very near the scene of the invasion on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The group flew in a couple of days early and had time to acclimatize and see a few sights. They took advantage of this time to go on a “Circle Tour” which included sea turtle sightings, sail a Catamaran, snorkel, hike in a rainforest, see lava rocks, and of course enjoy some sandy beaches and ocean swimming. They had learned their routine, which they performed in a group with 200 others, ahead of time, and had only a single practice in which to put it all together. The parade itself was also “indescribably amazing,” according to Ross. The girls did their routine over a dozen times as they marched with thousands of others in their red, white, and blue uniforms. Afterwards they were not too fatigued to enjoy a delectable, special picnic supper. “The food was amazing,” Ross commented. Overall, she said the trip, despite the fatigue of such long travel times, was very special, made pleasurable for her and the other moms by the “great group of girls.” Ross would like to heartily thank the many, many people and organizations in the community that made this possible through donations or one of the many fundraisers. Ross said the cheerleaders were constantly expressing their gratitude and amazement at this incredible opportunity. The Agate participants were: Adriana Hietala, Hailey Amesbury, Natalie Swanson, Emma Churness, Avery Hogan, Ellie Johnson, and Harper Fur
