Ocoee Bulldog Tiny Mites receive invitation to nationals

They might be small, but their goals are big. 

The Tiny Mite cheerleaders in the Ocoee Bulldogs Pop Warner football program are trying to raise $2,000 so they can entertain the crowd during the upcoming national Cheer & Dance Championships. The Pop Warner championships will be held Dec. 6 to 14 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

As of last week, the girls had raised $960, less than half of the money needed to fund the trip. Even though the event is in nearby Lake Buena Vista, there still are costs associated with the invitation. The performers, all ages 5 to 7, will need warm-up suits and meals. The coaches, Nycole Clark, Jenna Lenzi, Kendra Swindle and Amber Davis, also want to rent transportation for the cheerleaders.

“We want to make it memorable for the girls,” team mom Melissa Dyal said. “We want to try to cover everything, so none of our parents have to (pay) out of pocket. It would just be heartbreaking if one little girl couldn’t go because her parent couldn’t afford $100. So, we made a very clear decision that if one of them couldn’t go, none of them would.”

The Mid-Florida Pop Warner conference selects different squads to go to nationals, Dyal said. Typically, competitors are in at least fourth or fifth grade.

“It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Tiny Mites to go,” she said. “It’s actually an honor to go.”

The team includes Jaeda Anthony, Jasmine Aviles, Kynzi Backman, Amiyan Boston, Jayla Byrom, Taylor Clark, Baleigh Cox, Brianna Duncan, Claire Dyal, Raelynn Flowers, Jade Heffernan, Rylee Lenzi, Shyanne Marble, Jacqueline Salisbury, Kenleigh Swindle and Madison Thomas.

To make a donation to the squad, visit gofundme.com/tinymitenationals online. Checks can also be made out to Ocoee Junior Senior Football League and mailed to Melissa Dyal, 702 Starke Lake Circle, Ocoee, Florida 34761. Be sure to write “Tiny Mite Cheer” on the memo line.

The Cheer & Dance Championships feature more than 300 cheer and dance teams competing. Cheer and dance squads compete in four age groups (Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget and Midget). The cheer teams compete by squad size and in four categories. The dance teams compete in two categories (pom and theme).

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].

HOW TO HELP

To make a donation to the squad, visit gofundme.com/tinymitenationals online.

Checks can also be made out to Ocoee Junior Senior Football League and mailed to Melissa Dyal, 702 Starke Lake Circle, Ocoee, Florida 34761. Be sure to write “Tiny Mite Cheer” on the memo line.