Thanksgiving Day was a little different this year for two Vernon Middle School cheerleaders, as instead of eating turkey and dressing they were performing in a parade down the Main Street of Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Orlando.
Caylee Streit and Trista Lehman, both eighth graders, earned the opportunity to attend the Orlando Thanksgiving Tour at Walt Disney World sponsored by Varsity Spirit back in June at a Varsity Spirit UCA Cheer Camp. The entire Vernon Middle School cheerleading squad attended the camp and six members of the team – Caylee and Trista, along with Charleigh Cooper, Jaelle Guerrero, Brynlee Disbrow and Kynsleigh Hamm – were named All-American Cheerleaders by the UCA staff.
The distinction came with the chance to join other All-American Cheerleaders at Disney World the week of Thanksgiving. Caylee and Trista made the trip and joined 1,500 UCA All-American Cheerleaders from across the country in performing down the Magic Kingdom Main Street.
While Caylee, the daughter of Jason and Shelly Streit, and Trista, the daughter of Dr. Travis and Amanda Lehman, arrived in Orlando the Monday of Thanksgiving week, they had been preparing for the trip for quite a while.
“They sent us the routine we were doing several months ago so we could practice and learn it before we got there,” Caylee said. “There were so many cheerleaders there. We were a little scared at first, but then we made a couple of friends at practice and hung out with them.”
Trista agreed about there being a lot of cheerleaders there. “There were so many, and they were all really nice. It felt cool being in a big group of cheerleaders that won the same award as me.”
Both girls said there were so many funny moments on the trip that they couldn’t pick the funniest one. They also agreed on what they liked most about the trip.
“Just hanging out at the park with friends and riding some of the rides,” Caylee said.
“And, playing beach volleyball,” Trista added.
As part of the trip, the cheerleaders were given a backstage tour of Disney World. “We got to go backstage where the characters all great ready,” Caylee explained. “None of them were back there when we were on the tour, but was neat to be back there.”
Being in Florida with other cheerleaders did mean that Thanksgiving was a little different than normal for both girls.
“My mom and dad and brothers were here with me, but we usually go to my cousins’ house on Thanksgiving,” Caylee said. “My grandparents come over and we just hang out. This year it didn’t really feel like Thanksgiving.”
“Normally on Thanksgiving I would eat lunch with my family and hang out with them,” Trista explained. “I didn’t really miss it though because we just had Thanksgiving when we got back from Disney.”
This year Caylee’s and Trista’s Thanksgiving may not have been normal, but neither are the memories the girls have to look back on.