Each year every cheerleading squad in the CIAA names two cheerleaders as All-CIAA cheerleaders to perform at the CIAA Championship game, this year seniors Laurie Cooke and Kristyn Carswell were named as All-CIAA cheerleaders for Shaw for their second time.
Head cheerleading coach for Shaw, Cocoa Tucker, said she felt like both Cooke and Carswell would represent Shaw in the best way. “They show great leadership, and have mastered the Shaw University Chi-Chi cheer skill,” said Tucker.
“I’m very excited to be chosen as All-CIAA this year out of 13 girls on our squad”, said Laurie Cooke. Cooke is a senior from Charles City, VA majoring in psychology. After graduation in May, she plans on continuing her education at North Carolina State University to work towards receiving her masters in psychology. This is Cooke’s third year as a Shaw University Chi-Chi, and she is also serving as captain for the squad.
Along with Cooke, Kristyn Carswell is also serving as captain for the 2009-2010 cheerleading squad. Carswell is a senior from Houston, TX majoring in English education. Upon finishing at Shaw, Carswell plans on teaching eleventh grade English. This is her fourth year as a Shaw University Chi -Chi, and like Cooke this is her second time being named All-CIAA Cheerleader. “It had a greater significance this year because it’s my last year,” said Carswell.
Cooke and Carswell traveled to Durham on Thursday,November 5th where along with all the other All-CIAA cheerleaders they stayed at the Radisson Hotel. During there stay, they attended a banquet specifically for the cheerleaders, and later attended a banquet with both the Bowie State and Fayetteville State football teams. Also during there stay, all the squads learned a cheer that they performed together during the pre-game of the CIAA Championship game.