USA Today: S.C. cheerleader hunts, kills 10-foot-long alligator
UPI: SC Girl, 16, hunts gator with crossbow
The State: White Knoll cheerleader bags 'gator
White Knoll, South Carolina -- The White Knoll Wolves were down by four going into halftime, but star quarterback Jock Brickhead connected for three swift passes that placed the Wolves within striking distance of a go-ahead touchdown. The White Knoll Varsity Cheerleaders were going all out, helping to whip the racous hometown crowd into a frenzy that shook the popcorn in the concession stand.
And that's when Cammie saw the alligator.
Cammie Colin wasn't the star cheerleader of the varsity squad. Tiffany Luce, homecoming queen, had that job, and besides, Cammie was new to the school and hadn't made a lot of friends yet. She could barely tolerate the teasing from Tiffany and the popular girls, and couldn't even bring herself to speak to Brickhead, on whom she had a crush. But she would soon surprise everyone with her resourcefulness and quick actions.
As the Panthers broke huddle and lined up on the 12-yard line, every eye in the stadium watched the players' positions as Brickhead and company set up the next play. Only Cammie saw the ten-foot gator slowly crawling onto the field, headed directly for Brickhead.
Cammie broke the cheer pattern behind Tiffany's flip-twist routine and ran for her gym bag stashed next to Jennifer Luce, Tiffany's mom and the squad's stern choreographer. Ignoring the angry yells to return to her position from both Luce women, Cammie dug into her bag for her weapon of choice -- she had rushed to the game directly from crossbow practice, following her father's footsteps by excelling at this ancient device. Moving aside her practice bolts, she quickly grabbed her recurve crossbow and three broadhead bolts, loading one as she ran back to the field. The 350-lb gator had closed the gap, and as the ball was snapped, Brickhead backed up to pass -- and unknowingly backed closer to death.
Meanwhile, Cammie had dropped to one knee 25 yards from the giant monster. It was at that moment that the crowd became aware of the scene unfolding behind the football action. Brickhead stepped back to pass with plenty of time, well alone thanks to superb defense at the line, his zen-like concentration focused on threading the needle into the end zone. Just as the gator leapt to gnash Brickhead's torso, Cammie let her lethal bolt fly, catching the monster mid-air just behind the eye. The beast rolled sideways, knocked over by the force of the blow, ripping Brickhead's jersey with its fearsome fangs and drawing one thin line of blood across his rock-hard abdomen. Brickhead's pass was on target and easily caught, as the defenders had all stopped to watch the dangerous dance play out, alerted by the crowd's sudden change of tone. Brickman looked down at his gashed stomach, then down at the creature, and finally over at Cammie, trying to piece together what had just happened.
Loading one further bolt, Cammie calmly walked over to the twitching alligator and drove a coup de grace vertically through its head. Brickman, awareness of his near-miss with death slowly dawning on him -- as well as Cammie's angelic smile -- could only say, "Woah." Cammie, her shyness toward Brickhead suddenly vanished, looked at him sweetly and said, "Right?"
