El Paso youth cheerleading team competing on global stage after state title win

EL PASO, Texas — The Central Panthers youth cheerleading team is competing at the global level after winning the state championship this year. 

The team was started three years ago after Paty Chaparro, the team’s coach, volunteered to lead it because her daughter wanted to be a cheerleader. They started with just four girls but have now advanced to 15. 

The team is teaching girls about hard work and building their confidence. 

“My girls right now are like a family so they take care of each other,” Chaparro explained. 

At the state competition in San Antonio, the Panthers took on over 50 teams from around the state. Erika Morales, whose daughter is on the team, said the parents were overwhelmed by the amount of competition when they arrived, but the girls still seemed confident. 

“The girls shined,” Morales recalled. “The girls didn’t look nervous at all and if they were they didn’t show it.”

They won the state championship and now can compete at the global competition in February, but the team needs some help getting there. They are asking for sponsors to help pay for flights and hotels for the once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

“They worked hard for it and like I told you they’re always together and we want to be able to take them over there,” Chaparro said. 

Mary Wakefield, with the First Baptist Church, sponsored the team’s uniforms. The money came from the community clothes closet. 

The team is holding a raffle to raise money. Tickets cost $20 and you have a chance to win three different prizes: a weekend cabin get-a-way, a photoshoot, or a liquor basket. 

The first drawing is December 3. 

You can email the coach at patriciachaparro@yahoo.com to get your tickets and help raise money.