Greig makes transition to college cheerleading

How many people attend a football or basketball games in the Virgin Islands? How many people see the cheerleaders and wonder if there is life after cheerleading at the high school level?

One day, I asked current Ivanna Eudora Kean High School cheerleading captain D'nisha Thomas and she told me two coaches came down and did some training at UVI. She also had no knowledge of anyone who went on to cheer at the college level, so I went on a one-man mission. Low and behold, I did some research and found a success story.

I found someone who received an athletic scholarship in acrobatics and tumbling, basically cheerleading with an edge. Her name is Adeja Greig and she is from St. Thomas.

Greig, a freshman, is a force on the flat surface, but how did she get from St. Thomas to Quinnipiac University?

"My family and I moved to Maryland in the summer of 2003," said Greig. "My parents enrolled me in a summer camp at a cheerleading and gymnastics gym. At the end of the session, the coaches encouraged my parents to enroll me in the competitive cheer program. That is where my love for the sport began. My tumbling skills quickly advanced and I decided to switch to the award-winning program Maryland Twisters, where I spent the last five years. In 2009 and 2011, my team won the cheerleading worlds."

So many accomplishments in such a small space of time, I had to ask the daughter of Robert and Natasha Greig if she is the only one in the family of four sisters to compete.

"I am the first in my family to play this sport at this level," added Greig. "I don't know what the future holds for my sisters, but I would like to see more Virgin Islanders take part. I would love to see acrobatics and tumbling grow in the Virgin Islands."

"As a cheerleader competing at the Cheerleading Worlds, I have had the opportunity to see teams compete from all around the world, including Puerto Rico," she said. "I look forward to the day that a team from the Virgin Islands is competing at this level."

With all this talk about cheering, I had to ask, do they have positions like basketball or is it 'do your thing?'

"My specialty in terms of acrobatics and tumbling skills are tumbling and back-spotting," said Greig. "Tumbling is my strong point. I currently throw a "Whip Through to a Full" as my Elite Pass this year."

A 'whip through' what?

"The 'Whip Through' is a type of move in cheerleading," said a laughing Greig.

With all the whipping, or should I say cut and go through going on, how did she end up at Quinnipiac?

"I knew that I wanted to continue to cheer when I went to college and I had heard that there were a few schools that were turning the competitive cheer format into an NCAA sport," said Greig. "I did my research and sent my recruitment video out to a few of the schools, including Quinnipiac."

She was contacted by coach Mary Ann Powers "and invited for an official visit," she said. "After touring the campus and meeting some of the other team members, I knew that Quinnipiac was the place for me."

The graduate of Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Md., and her teammates had their first competition on Feb. 4th. Quinnipiac fell to Maryland, 284.540 to 274.855. There are four more meets on the schedule before playoffs at Baylor University.

"I just want the young girls in the Virgin Islands to know that there are opportunities out there so don't give up."

V.I. fencing prospect Homer expected to move to top of Adjusted Olympic Rankings

St. Thomas native and Olympic fencing hopeful Daryl Homer started the international season with Top 20 finishes in Europe earlier this month. With his great blade work, Homer gained points towards qualification for the 2012 Olympics in London.

He finished in 14th place in the men's saber at the Plovdiv Grand Prix in Bulgaria on Feb. 5, and captured a gold medal at the North American Cup in December.

Homer is expected to move into the top spot in National Team Points Rankings, and the Adjusted Olympic Rankings. The senior at St. John's University is red-shirting the 2011-12 season to focus on the Olympics this summer.

Dowdy chooses Grambling State

A couple months ago I told you about three-sport star Shawheem Dowdy. Dowdy is a jack of all trades because he plays basketball, baseball and football, and by the way, he is a black belt in Karate. On football signing day, the Newtown quarterback chose Grambling State University as the place he will be throwing passes for the next four years.

"I chose the school because I love everything about the school," said Dowdy. "They are a family, and I will be coached by the great Doug Williams."

Dowdy plans on studying sports marketing with a minor in mass communications, and may be moved to free safety. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound athlete is the son of Dari-Lee Barnes.

Felix wins his 2,500th race

Crucian jockey Julio Felix won his 2,500 career race on Feb. 4th aboard J. Pa in Turfway Park's eighth race in Florence, Ky. Among Felix's stakes scores is one graded event, the 1994 Sabin Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park with Hunzinga. His most recent stakes win occurred just last Saturday when he guided Grand Daddy to the win in the Forego Stakes at Turfway.

In addition to his milestone win tally, Felix also has 2,591 seconds and 2,538 thirds and has amassed career purse earnings of more than $26.6 million. Victor Lebron, Felix's cousin, is the runaway leading jockey at the park.

Lebron, aboard Lotta Lovin, won the $50,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes by 7 lengths on Jan. 21. Lebron has 45 wins in a 166 starts, and Felix chimes in with 10 wins in 86 mounts.

Penelope Carpenter named to All-Sportsmanship team

Penelope Carpenter, who was named Antilles School's Female Athlete of the Year in 2008, was named to the 2011 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All-Sportsmanship team. After graduating from Antilles, Carpenter went on to Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., where she is expected to graduate in May.

- David Edole is a sports enthusiast and V.I. resident.

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