FORT VALLEY, GA. – The Fort Valley State University Cheerleaders held their annual cheer champ on Monday, July 11, 2017 through Thursday, July 13, 2017 at the FVSU HPE Complex while working with the assistant from the Universal Cheer Association (UCA).
 
"We are excited about our new upcoming season." said Head Coach, Greta Renfus. "This year we have 26 cheer participants, 23 young ladies and 3 gentlemen.  We haven't had a team this size in about four or five years, so we're super pumped."
 
Along with the UCA material, the team learned FVSU material to prepare for the new season.  The camp was an all day camp, so the team must be fit, and open to building relationships, and being motivated.
 
To participate, students must have a 2.0 GPA; however the coach encouraged her team to strive higher. Each participant must be a current FVSU student in good academic standing and have medical insurance.
 
In order to help form and build relationships, the team stayed together in the dormitory during camp. They did several team building activities during camp including having dinner together at a local restaurant.
 
The FVSU Cheer Team worked hard for three days, while getting up at 7 a.m. for morning workouts and practicing late at night. Coach Renfus's expectations for the team is like the UCA's mission along with driving them to be a better student first and focus highly on their academics.
 
"Since 1974, UCA has instilled leadership skills and personal confidence in more than four million athletes on and off the field. UCA's mission is to inspire leadership." said Coach Renfus. "Throughout camp, UCA instructors equipped the team with cheers, sideline chants, and dances to use throughout the year. They helped us improve on our stunts and gave us collegiate stunt routines."