ERNIE BROWN JR. Rayen cheerleaders follow the formula for success

As we enter a new year, there is still an adage worth remembering: Hard work, dedication and commitment are needed to achieve success.
Those qualities are personified in The Rayen School cheerleading squad, 18 young women who have put in long hours of practice to achieve a rare honor for this area -- obtaining a berth in the UCA National High School Cheerleading Competition in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 7-11. The event is scheduled to be televised on ESPN and ESPN2.
The squad recently won five awards at the 19th annual Festival of Lights Cheerleading Championship in Niagara Falls, Canada, which qualified it for the national competition.
Rayen's honors were Most Spirited Team and firsts in Cheer and Chant Division, Music and Pompom Division, Varsity High School USA and Canadian Division and the Grand Champions of Club Junior Varsity/Varsity Division.
Winning top cheerleading honors is nothing new for this squad, however. In fact, it expects to excel every time it competes.
Here are some of squad's achievements from 2002: It took first place at a competition at Windham High School and second place at The Rayen School annual cheerleading competition, both in November; finished eighth in its division at the Ohio State Fair in August; and in late fall won the Most Spirited Award at the Liberty High School Pink Ribbon Cheerleading Classic for Breast Cancer.
Here was the goal
Annie P. Terry, coach and adviser, started coaching the squad in 1998. Her goal was a lofty one.
"I wanted to bring the Rayen squad members up to top-notch status and put them at the same level as the suburban schools," Terry said.
"The girls practice two days a week, but during competition, we practice every day after school to about 8 p.m. and on weekends for three to four hours."
The squad works hard on its jumps and other routines. Terry said she keeps a critical eye out on the techniques other squads use to score and win.
And that hard work and scrutiny has paid off.
In 2001, the squad won 11 trophies and plaques for cheerleading.
She said her 1998 squad laid the groundwork for those who have followed.
"And from year to year, the squads have gotten better and better. The girls have really worked hard to excel," Terry said.
The squad also has the school's 2003 valedictorian and salutatorian. More than 90 percent of the cheerleaders are in the top 10 percent of their class.
Squad members are Aulanna Armour, Kyara Austin, Keyonna Berger, Brittney Daniels, Tia Haynes, Cara Hobbs, Shanelle Johnson, Jasmine Jones, Shanika McCullough, Shannon Meadows, Rikina Reese, Kenyatta Robinson, Coretta Rutledge, Dominique Scott, Misha Taylor, Tammarra Thigpen, Erica Triplett and Domonique Venable.
They can use your help to continue their excellence. It will cost about $13,000 to cover transportation, hotel rooms and food for the cheerleaders, coaches and chaperons.
Donations may be sent to The Rayen School c/o Annie Terry, 250 Benita Ave., Youngstown 44504. The donation may be sent in the form of a cashier's check or money order payable to the Rayen Cheerleaders Fund.
Let's support these young women, who have represented our city with pride and dignity.
Another first
The city of Youngstown also has been chosen to host the first Hispanic Relay for Life event in Ohio in June.
"We are trying to raise awareness in the Hispanic community about cancer," said Rita Lopez, the local event's chairwoman. Lopez said the race geared specifically toward Hispanics has been held in cities with larger Hispanic populations. Her assistant is Virginia Hernandez.
The American Cancer Society, St. Elizabeth Health Center and other corporations, civic groups and businesses are helping in the effort.
There is a planning session set for 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana, 3660 Shirley Road, on Youngstown's South Side. People will be needed to line up entertainment, refreshments, serve as team captains to recruit members, and other activities.
Lopez is asking the community, particularly the Hispanic community, to come forward and lend a hand.
Relay for Life involves a team of walkers or runners who raise donations and travel around a track. Teams consist of 10 to 15 people, and the event usually is for 24 hours.
The specific day and place for the relay will be announced in coming weeks.
For more information, call Lopez at (330) 533-3040, Hernandez at (330) 744-8351 or the ACS.
ebrown@vindy.com