CHAPEL HILL– The North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced today that Cheer Ltd. Inc., a national leader in the spirit industry, has established the Carolina Cup Award to recognize annually the top high school varsity cheerleading team in North Carolina.

The first Carolina Cup will be presented at the 2005 NCHSAA State Invitational Cheerleading Championships to be held on Saturday, November 12, at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh.

“I think this is a great idea and we are excited about recognizing the top varsity cheerleading team in North Carolina at the NCHSAA Invitational Championships,” says Charlie Adams, executive director of the NCHSAA. “We look forward to this becoming a prestigious part of the program.”

In addition to the individual Carolina Cup, which will be given to the winning team each year, Cheer Ltd. also has given a permanent Carolina Cup to be placed in the NCHSAA headquarters which will have the name of the winning team added to the cup’s mahogany base every year.

According to Gwen Holtsclaw, president of Cheer Ltd. Inc., the single high school varsity team, no matter which division it competes in, that receives the highest cumulative score at the NCHSAA State Invitational Cheerleading Championships will be awarded the Carolina Cup.

“North Carolina is not only the corporate headquarters for Cheer Ltd Inc., but also one of the strongest states for cheerleading in the country,” says Holtsclaw. “We are pleased that this prestigious award will bring strong recognition to exceptional North Carolina high school cheerleaders.”

Cheer Ltd. Inc. has been a corporate sponsor of the NCHSAA since 1998 and was named NC Small Business of the Year in 2004. Headquartered in Fayetteville, Cheer Ltd. Inc. was established in 1988 and produces cheerleading events across the country.