The hands of time will reverse briefly for April Mercurio on Jan. 17.

For when her 18-year-old daughter Aisha walks onto the football field and performs her cheerleading routine in front of thousands, the proud mom will see her daughter as a 5-year-old with a huge smile and great big pompoms in her hands.

"I'm going to think that I'll actually be watching my daughter, who will soon be a lady," Ms. Mercurio said, her voice quaking. "I get to look at my little girl."

Aisha's constant practicing and hard work will culminate in one spectacular night when she performs with hundreds of cheerleaders and dancers from across the nation during the halftime show at the 2004 Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic in Hawaii.

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