London Calling: CHS Cheerleader Prepares for British Trip

Colton High School (CHS) cheerleader Nicole Toro has raised the initial $800 she needed to secure her spot on the All-American cheer squad, and will travel at the end of this year to London, England and participate in London’s New Year’s Day Parade on Jan. 1, 2014. On Wednesday, Sept. 4, Toro sent off her $800 deposit and is now starting to raise the remainder of the trip’s required $3,300. “I’m nervous, but it’s more of an anxious, excited nervous,” Toro said by phone last week. She was chosen from 200 cheerleaders who tried out for the squad in early August during cheer camp at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.—a feat in and of itself as only certain cheerleaders were even selected to audition for a spot in the All American squad. “When I heard my name called, I was excited,” said Toro, who is a junior this year at CHS and is a captain on the CHS Cheer Squad. “Only a small percentage made it. Out of 200 girls, maybe 30 were chosen. I was really proud.” Toro is the only cheerleader from CHS to make the squad, and will represent the district, which includes Bloomington High School, Colton High School and Grand Terrace High School, in cheerleading. She made the squad last year, but was unable to raise the money needed to participate. The trip will be the first opportunity Toro has had to travel outside of the country, and she shared she is looking forward to the opportunities she will have while overseas. During the eight days she will spend in London, she, along with her squad, will get to visit famous and quintessentially British sites, like Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and the Elizabeth Tower (more commonly known as “Big Ben”). “I think sightseeing will be cool, but the top thing for me is: I love cheer, and to get to do it out of the country and perform with new people that I’ve just met is exciting,” Toro said. Her mother Kerri said that while she is a little nervous about the idea of her daughter traveling to a new country, she is mostly excited, and has faith in Nicole’s ability to make friends and connect with her fellow travelers. “Nicole has an amazing personality to make friends, so I know that won’t be a problem,” said Kerri Toro. “I’m excited for her that she gets to get her first stamp in her passport and visit sites that her dad and I haven’t even been to.” Cheerleaders were chosen nationwide to be on part of the squad, and Nicole will cheer alongside UCA/NCA/USA/ACP cheerleaders, which also presents a great opportunity for her, her parents shared. “Going international and being with some of the top cheerleaders in the country, she will bring back and learn leadership,” said Nicole’s father, Colton City Mayor Pro Tem David Toro. Both David and Kerri agreed that leadership was a quality Nicole already possesses and displays, but they feel she will benefit and grow in being around other cheerleaders. “This is going to be a very good experience for her,” David Toro said. The family is now working on raising the next $1,800 by October, they shared.