North Bay Rebels find a home

The area’s newest cheerleading program is composed of Rebels with a cause.

The North Bay Rebels are determined to be in las Vegas on the weened of Jan. 24 to participate in the national championships,

The Rebels, the dream of the mother-daughter coaching team of mother Jamie Hildreth and daughter Linzie Hildreth, were organized just this September and have already been in two competitions, finishing third in both.

At Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, they were within a point of first place before deduction in a competition that included two former national champions. They competed after only nine practices.

That the Rebels are even practicing, let alone competing, this fall is something of a miracle.

Jamie and Linzie had plans for the team formulated and were even beginning to sign up participants when the deal for the facility they planned to use fell through, and they had no home.

“We needed a place with mats and a high ceiling,” Jamie explained. As the search began to get a little desperate, someone tipped them off to Liberty School. One look at the multi-use room and the available mats assured them that they had found a home.

Not only was the room available, it was financially doable, allowing the coaches to maintain their dream of making cheerleading affordable for all.

“Liberty School has been wonderful. We couldn’t have found a better place,” Jamie said.

The Rebel girls are between the ages of 9 and 15. Many had started their cheerleading under the guidance of Jamie and Linzie when the coaches were working with the Petaluma Panther youth football cheeerleaders.”

Emily Crum is one who has known the Hildreths for several years. “I really like the coaches,” she said. “They have always supported me and my family.”

Meghan Cresci is new to cheering, but has many friends on the team. “I’ve always wanted to try cheering and a lot of my friends were on the team. It really has been a lot of fun.”

“It is like a family here,” said Jasmine Cruz. “It is everything I wanted.”

Lobster sale

To help make their trip to the nationals a reality, the Rebels are offering live Maine lobsters for sale this holiday season.

The lobsters will be delivered live on Friday, Dec. 18 and be ready for pick up on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 301 Petaluma Blvd. South from noon to 4 p.m. Orders of 10 or more will be delivered. For those who wish, the lobsters will be cooked by Rebel volunteers.

To order: e-mail nbrebelscheer@gmail.com or call 548-8938.