Forget bundling up with heavy coats and scarves.
A dozen members of the Sierra High School cheerleading team will spend their Christmas break soaking up the Florida sunshine while representing Manteca Unified School District at one of college football’s oldest bowl games.
And they’ll be the first squad from Sierra High School to perform at a college bowl game.
“I think it’s a great honor for the girls and it’s definitely one of those things that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives,” Sierra High School Cheer Advisor Michele Fay said. “They worked hard to earn the invitation and it’s an amazing opportunity for them to be able to experience this.”
On Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, the team of 12 girls will step onto the field at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida to participate in a pre-game performance for the 2018 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl – which hosts the top Southeastern Conference and Big 10 teams that aren’t a part of the college football playoff bowl series. For the last 32 years the bowl, which was first played in 1947, has featured two ranked teams and boasts the largest payout for non-playoff teams out of any bowl ever played.
Those wishing to support the squad can do so by purchasing their dinner at Chipotle on Wednesday, Nov. 22 from 4 to 8 p.m., bringing with them the flier that’s available on the school’s official athletics twitter feed – @Sierra_Ath_Dept – to help offset the nearly $2,000 cost for each of the students to attend.
Fay, who is in her third year at the helm of the program, said that the girls qualified for the invitation over the summer while at a UCA cheerleading camp at UC Davis, and has since been raising money so that parents don’t have to shoulder the bulk of the cost of the trip.
So far, they have held a car wash and a paint night in addition to selling spirit wear at sporting events and putting money from the annual Tiny Timberwolves event towards the trip.
While Fay says that she’s more than grateful to the parents who are willing to supplement the cost and the girls themselves for the work that they’ve put in to earn the honor, she’s also very thankful to the larger Manteca Unified and Manteca communities for their support and their willingness to allow the girls to experience something so unique.
“There were a lot of clearances that we needed to get in order to be able to go,” Fay said. “I’m grateful to our parents for trusting us to take the girls to Florida over Christmas break – myself and the athletic director will be chaperoning the team – when it’s time that they normally spend with their families.
“We’re proud to represent Sierra High School, and excited about the opportunity.”
The team will spend a week in Orlando rehearsing to prepare for their performance – which will take place in front of 65,000 fans and millions watching on television around the world. They will get the opportunity to attend the Walt Disney World Resort as a part of their stay.
Representing Sierra High School will be Ysabella Hernandez Jr. from the freshman squad, Brianna Diaz, Taylor Gates and Diana Ugalde from the junior varsity squad, and Malia De Jesus, Isabella Aguilar, Yasmin Aguilar, Briana Estrada, Ria Kotecha, Ariana Rodriguez, Anaiya Cello and Rose Sperbeck from the varsity squad.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.