Wood's Burkhamer to cheer for Iowa State; four others sign

Lauren Burkhamer never imagined her future would take her to the state of Iowa, but the James Wood senior couldn’t really ask for a better situation than the one she’ll have at Iowa State University in Ames.

The Class 4 All-State and Region 4D First Team cheerleader signed with the Cyclones in a ceremony at James Wood School last week. Iowa State placed seventh in the National Cheerleaders Association Advanced All-Girl Division IA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla., this year, and Burkhamer will also be going to a school with a strong radiology program.

“I’ve never really been to Iowa, so it’s kind of a new thing for me,” said Burkhamer, who helped James Wood place second in Region 4D and sixth in Class 4. “I’m really excited to just go there and meet a lot of new people. I’m not going to know anyone except who’s on the cheer team.

“They have a really good science program. They’re actually known for science and technology. It actually worked out perfect that I wanted to study science.”

Brandon Waters (basketball for NCAA Division III Mount Aloysius College) also signed during last week’s ceremony. In addition, James Wood had a trio of baseball players recently sign to compete at the college level in Garett McAlexander and Kemper Omps (both NCAA Division III Shenandoah University) and Bradley Kimble (Camp Community College in Franklin).

A side base and tumbler, Burkhamer said watching Iowa State compete at the NCA Nationals is what piqued her interest. After checking out the school and campus online, she asked her mother if she could attend Iowa State’s tryout, and she agreed to it.

The tryout took place over two days at the end of April in which she had to tumble, stunt and learn cheers that prospective team members would need to perform at Iowa State. Before she went back home, Burkhamer found out she made the team. Burkhamer’s first practice session with Iowa State will take place June 22-24.

“I’m just so excited,” Burkhamer said. “I knew I always wanted to be a part of some sort of team in college just to really expand my friend group. Being a part of the team, especially being so far from home, they’re going to be like my second family.”

Waters was a Second Team All-Class 4 Northwestern District guard who averaged 9.1 points per game and made 64.5 percent of his free throws (20-of-31).

Mount Aloysius is located in Cresson, Pa. The Mounties went 9-16 overall and 7-11 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference this year.

Waters will major in education to be a teacher, specifically history, and minor in business.

McAlexander is the Class 4 Northwestern District Co-Player of the Year and a First Team All-District pitcher this season. He has a 7-1 record with 60 strikeouts in 51 innings. He has a 2.19 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. At the plate, McAlexander is batting .297 (14-for-47). He has a .451 on-base percentage and eight RBIs. He will major in computer science at SU.

Omps is a First Team All-District outfielder who is batting .299 (20-for-67) with a .373 OBP. He’s scored 18 runs, has 14 RBIs and has stolen 11 bases. He was First Team All-Region 4C as a junior. He will major in business at SU.

Shenandoah went 28-17 overall and placed third in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference with a 14-8 record this year.

A pitcher/infielder, Kimble has pitched eight innings and has nine strikeouts and 4.67 ERA. The criminal justice major joins a Camp Community College team that is 35-19 this year.

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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