Dukes Jr. Pee Wee cheer squad wins region title
On Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Sun Bank Arena in Trenton the Hillsborough Dukes Jr. Pee Wee squad performed a perfect routine to win the Eastern Region cheerleading competition against the best 14 age-group squads from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
The Jr. Pee Wee squad of 12 girls from Auten Road Intermediate and Woods Road, Sunnymead and Hillsborough elementary schools performed a two and one-half-minute routine of cheers, dance, tumbling and stunting.
The girls’ next and final competition will be at Walt Disney World in Florida at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex on Monday, Dec. 9.
Head Coach Elizabeth Prince said, “It has been an amazing season and I could not be prouder of these young ladies. I have coached some of these girls since they were in kindergarten. As each new girl has joined, it is like they have always been part of the team. They have shown a confidence in themselves the last few weeks that you cannot teach. They believed they could make it Nationals and now I cannot wait to see what they have in store at Disney.”
The team has come in first place at every competition so far, so they are hoping for great things in Florida. However, just qualifying to attend nationals is a victory in itself.
Head Cheer Commissioner Ellen Compell said, “This is a great group of girls that understands the value of hard work, but also how to have fun.”
In addition to practicing, their thoughts turn to fundraising. The team is being partially sponsored through a donation approved by the Hillsborough Dukes board. In addition they will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser at Applebee’s on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 8-10 a.m., seeking sponsorship from local businesses, as well as soliciting money with cans around town.
Contact [email protected]/ 908-947-8197 to get tickets for the breakfast for $10 each or if interested in sponsoring the team.

