Eastern Dance Team Captures Third Place National Ranking
(Press Release 04-25-08)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Story by Kambrye Gillean, Eastern Journalism Student

Eastern Oklahoma State College’s Pom and Dance team finished third in the nation April 11, at the 2008 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship held in Daytona Beach, Fla. Eastern’s Cheer team also did well at the competition, finishing 16th nationally.

“I was delighted with the outcome, because the teams have worked so hard for this level of achievement,” Cheerleading and Pom and Dance coach, Pat Thomas said.

After placing fourth in the preliminary round, the Pom and Dance team advanced to the final stage of the competition, where they moved as high as first place before the final third place finish.

The cheerleaders also did well in first-round competition, making it to the final day of the contest. Eastern’s team finished with a Top 20 performance.

The dancers performed against the University of Albany, Tarleton State University, Loyola University and the University of South Carolina. In the cheer competition, the Wilburton community college went against some major universities, including the University of Central Oklahoma, the United States Military Academy, Georgia State University and the University of Texas- San Antonio.

Under the guidance of Thomas, Eastern has a long successful tradition in competition at the nationals throughout the last 20 years.

There are more than 4,000 NCAA teams in the United States and Eastern is generally considered to be one of the top 100 programs in the nation. More than 200 teams are selected to the finals in Daytona each year.

Eastern’s cheerleaders and pom and dance squads began competing in 1988 with Thomas as coach. The cheerleaders have placed nationally in third place (twice), fourth place (twice), fifth, sixth place (twice), seventh (three), eighth (twice), and ninth (twice) since that time.

In 2005, the Eastern Cheerleaders captured first place to become the national champions.

Thomas is sometimes referred to as the “Dean” of Eastern coaches. She began teaching at Eastern in August, 1963 and has been coaching cheerleaders since that time. She began coaching the Pom and Dance squad in 1994.

Thomas has been named to the top 10 Cheerleading Coaches in America. Her squad members have transferred to all of Oklahoma’s four-year and comprehensive universities as well as other universities nationally.

Dance team members who traveled to Daytona included: Jenna Bills, Wilburton; Elisha Colbert, Hartshorne; Erica Crawford, Quinton; Jacy Crowl, Hartshorne; Tanaya Dabney, McAlester; Whitney Forwoodson, Wilburton; Stacia Joslin, McAlester; Amanda Kirk, Wilburton; Tristian McCool, Wilburton; Shalaine Priddle, Carrollton, Texas; Jayme Reager, Wilburton; Jessica Roberts, Wilburton; Kambrye Gillean, Keota; Whitney Sparks, Wilburton; Kendall Tapscott, McAlester; Michelle Tengbeh, Wilburton; Karina Valenzuela, Carrollton, Texas and Jennifer Whitson, Ada.

Members of the cheerleading squad who made the trip include: Layna Austin, Checotah; Momcilo Babic, Belgrade; Nicole Birckel, Quinton; Broderick Crawford, Quinton; Kimberly Dull, Harrah; Micheal Eaton, Tulsa; Chantel Fowler, Muskogee; Eddie Green, Atoka; Beau Hall, Howe; Bethany Hart, Vian; Timothy Hart, Vian; Chandra James, Cookson; Magen Johnson, Allen, Texas; Krishina McMullan, Muldrow; Robert Miller, Porum; Cor’Darryl Murrell, Checotah; Heather Pendley, Weleetka; Jackson Presley, Stigler; Calli Reasnor, McCurtain; Jonna Reavis, Holdenville; Lauren Strain, Quinton; Lacey Wallace, Sallisaw and Wesley White, Pocola.

To view the final results and Eastern’s national performances, visit Eastern’s Athletics Web page at http://www.eosc.edu/athletics/athletics.html.

Members of Eastern Oklahoma State College's third place nationally ranked Pom and Dance team available for a photo include from left: Whitney Sparks, Wilburton; Kendal Tapscott, McAlester; Jenna Bills, Wilburton; Jessica Roberts, Wilburton; Amanda Kirk, Wilburton; Karina Valenzuela,  Carrolton, TX;  Tanaya Dabney, McAlester and Tristian McCool from Wilburton.

VIDEO LINKS AVAILABLE ON THE ATHLETICS PAGES