March 25, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue cheerleading squad, set to compete against 16 other Division I-A cheerleading programs on April 4 and 5, will perform its nationals routine Tuesday, April 2, in Mackey Arena.
Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the public is invited. No admission fee will be charged.
Purdue finished third in the National Cheerleaders Association competition in 2000 and fifth last year.
The cheer squad departs for Daytona Beach, Fla., on April 3 and competes in preliminaries on April 4. The finals will be held April 5 and will be televised at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, on CBS.
"We have been preparing for this competition since January," said cheer coach Sue Bayley. "We are ready and feel very confident with our routine. It would be great to have a big turnout for this performance to give us a true crowd atmosphere."
A group of elementary- through high school-age all-star cheerleaders also will perform in Mackey before the Purdue cheerleaders. The cheerleaders, from Dance Moves and Gymnastics in Lafayette, will perform stunts and tumbling at 7:30 p.m. The cheerleaders will perform after the conclusion of the Dance Moves and Gymnastics routine.