I Falls to NYC: Local cheerleaders to perform in Thanksgiving Day parade

Last week the girls, along with 13 other Bronco cheerleaders, attended a National Cheerleaders Association camp at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. As squad captains who will be seniors in high school, Shermoen and Vollom were eligible to participate in the parade after attending the camp.

Vollom said when the girls received a brochure of trips they were eligible for during camp, they instantly knew they wanted to participate in the parade.

“We opened it and (the parade) was the first one we saw,” she said. “We just looked at each other and knew we wanted to go there.”

Spirit of America Productions organizes the event that attracts cheerleaders from around the United States. The week-long visit to New York City includes rehearsals for the Thanksgiving Day performance along with a Broadway show, a visit to the Statue of Liberty, dinner in Times Square and other well-known attractions in America’s most popular city.

“I’m so excited and so grateful to be able to do this and to my parents who are allowing me to do this,” Shermoen said.

Shermoen’s parents will accompany the girls on the trip, which will allow them to explore the city further than what the program’s itinerary allows.

“It is going to be so much fun,” said Vollom, who noted that the visit to NYC will coincide with her 18th birthday. “I’m going to go shopping in Times Square for my birthday. I can’t wait.”

Jessica Crosby, who coaches the FHS football cheerleading squad, of which both Shermoen and Vollom are members, said she is “incredibly proud” of the girls and excited for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“This is a huge opportunity for these girls,” she said. “I am so excited for them.”

Crosby noted FHS cheerleaders have participated in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the past, “but it’s been awhile,” she said.

“Maria and Bailey will be in New York representing Bronco cheerleading and the rest of International Falls,” she said. “I’m very proud of them.”

With just under four months until Thanksgiving, the girls say they will be busy fundraising around the community to help cover expenses of trip.

“We will have donation cans around town and already have a few other ideas to help us raise money,” Vollom said. “The rest of our squad is excited for us and we’re hoping they’ll help out.”

Crosby added that monetary donations can be made directly to the girls’ trip by contacting her at 283-8311.

“Bailey and I are best friends, and being able to do it together is a time we’ll never forget,” Shermoen said.

Success at camp

While Shermoen and Vollom’s trip has generated much excitement in the days following last week’s visit to camp, Crosby notes the group made other accomplishments during the three-day event.

“The girls did awesome,” Crosby said of the squad. “I couldn’t be more proud of this group.”

Cheerleaders from Minnesota and Wisconsin attended the camp at St. Scholastica and Crosby said the group of 15 cheerleaders received a plethora of awards.

“We didn’t go to camp last year, so it was a first-time visit for a majority of the girls,” she said. “I really saw tremendous improvement in some of the newer girls.”

Crosby said she and Shawna Bolstad, who coaches the hockey cheerleading squad, also participated in classes and achieved NCA coaching certifications.

On top of team awards, Crosby said there were seven cheerleaders – Shermoen, Vollom, Emma Johnson, Maddy Foss, Nikki Skifstrom, McKenna Rasmussen and Marisa Meyer – who were nominated for All American, a designation by NCA given to cheelearders who demonstrate quality in leadership, strength in stunting or jumps, and other areas of the sport.

And Crosby said other girls on the squad have qualified for other national events like the Macy’s parade, but haven’t made up their minds on attending.

“Younger kids in this community look up to these cheerleaders,” Crosby said. “These girls are setting an example – whether they like it or not – to who those younger kids aspire to be.”