Bridgewater Cheerleader to Spend Thanksgiving in Parade

Bridgewater will have its own representation in this year's annual Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, as one cheerleader has been invited to perform with the Varsity All-American Group.

"I'm looking forward to having an opportunity that most cheerleaders may never have, making new friends with common interests and having an experience of a lifetime," said Summer Smith, a cheerleader for the Bridgewater Football League.

Smith is one of more than 500 junior and high school cheerleaders and dancers nationwide who has been chosen to perform during the oldest parade in the nation this year.

According to Smith, she attended a cheerleading camp with the Bridgewater Football League cheerleading squad at Edison High School in August—that led to the chance to try out to be part of the team for the parade.

"This camp was run by the Universal Cheerleaders Association, in which more than 100 girls from many different squads from schools all over the state attended," she said. "At the end of camp, they conducted a try-out for the All American UCA Team."

Smith said a few representatives from each squad were picked to represent the whole squad, and she was one of those chosen.

"Then about 10 percent of the total camp attendees were selected to be All Americans, and were invited to cheer in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade," she said.

Those chosen are spending several days in Philadelphia from Tuesday through Thursday, practicing the routine and visiting Philadelphia landmarks, according to a release from the organization.

Cheerleaders and dancers are chosen after trying out at the end of any Varsity camp, and only about 12 percent across the country are chosen to participate in a holiday march event, the release said.

Varsity, according to the release, dates back to 1948 and has many different organizations, including educational camps, clinics, competitions and uniforms. The national championships are held in Disney World, and have been televised on ESPN for more than 25 years.

Smith said she has already received a video of the dance routine in the mail, which she has had to practice and learn on her own. And aside from rehearsals as a group, she will be attending a guided waling tour of Philadelphia and a "Spirit of Philadelphia" dinner cruise.

"Then of course the parade, on Thanksgiving we will have breakfast super early at 4 a.m., have one last practice and do the parade," she said. "During the parade, we will be doing our routine along with various cheers."

Following the parade, Smith said, will be Thanksgiving dinner, and a DJ Dance Party.

Smith said she has been cheerleading for about three years now, and enjoys all she learns from it.

"I really enjoy the stunting, the halftime routines and tumbling," she said. "But most of all, I really like spending time and having fun with good friends."

And Smith said she is excited about this specific opportunity to show off her skills and learn even more.

"I will have lots of fun memories and a cheerleading experience I could not get anywhere else," she said. "I also think it will be a great accomplishment to higlight on my college application."

"This is a great honor that I am so excited about," she added.