CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Little Sea Queen Camp Teaches the ABCs of Cheer

They gave a C, a D and and an M — then they jumped in the air and showed their spirit as the final day of a three-day cheer camp wrapped up in the Corona del Mar High School’s small gym on Thursday.

The Little Sea Queen Cheer & Song Camp is an annual program fundraiser, led by high school students. This year, 134 girls from kindergarten through sixth grade participated. The girls learned cheers, performed for their parents and will have a chance to cheer at the CdMHS football team’s first game against Laguna Hills on Friday night.

“Every little girl wants to be a cheerleader,” said Bekah Garvin, the middle school cheer coach. “It’s fun for them, and it’s a good way to end the summer.”

The girls formed small groups, each led by a high school cheerleader in uniform. They stretched, then went over cheers and chants — “Let’s fight! Let’s win! The Sea Kings are at it again!” — always with specific arm motions.

“I love learning all the cheers and the good music,” said Harbor View fifth-grader Paris Paz, who plans to try out for cheer when she goes to middle school. “I like all the leaders.”

“It’s helping me stretch out, and when I’m older I’ll be more flexible,” said Harbor View fourth-grader Ella Green, who also plans to try out for cheerleader in a few years.

Ella said cheerleading could smooth the transition from elementary school.

“I’m kind of scared because I’ll be at a new school,” she said. “But it might help me feel like I’m back at my old school” with friends from the camp.

CdMHS freshman Claire Robertson said working with the younger girls was fun.

“It’s really cute to see their interpretations of the cheers we do,” she said. “I’m sure there is a future cheerleader in here. I’m not sure who, but there is definitely a lot of potential.”