Kylee Byrd, top, and Sarah Klinker, below, perform a double jump during The Firecracker's practice at South Lebanon Elementary School. (Photo by Michael Snyder) | ZOOM |

        HAMILTON TOWNSHIP — The Kings Firecrackers Jump Rope Team will end the 2001-02 season the same way they started it: performing on national television.

        The 22-member team is scheduled to leave May 18 for New York, where the girls on May 20 will perform a two-and-a-half minute routine on The Late Show with David Letterman, shown locally at 11:35 p.m., on Channels 12 and 7.

        Next week's trip marks the second time in six months the fourth- through seventh-grade girls have been asked to bring their show to New York City. Last November, the team made its first trip to New York to appear in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

        “I think Macy's generated a lot of interest. This (Letterman) is like the cherry on top,” said Firecrackers Coach Lynn Kelley.

        Preparation for the show began last week. The nearly 8-minute routine the girls have been using during competition season had to be cut down and adapted to fit the dimensions of the Letterman stage. The girls have been practicing an hour a day to perfect their routine.

        Twelve-year-old Emilee Slowik said she is excited about going back to New York but is nervous about the show. She will be the first girl jumping — doing an octopus.

        “I think it's difficult getting out there and being the first one. I'm nervous,” Emilee said.

        Kylee Byrd, 11, said she, too, is nervous, but with all the practicing the girls have been doing, she knows they are ready.

        “Once you're there in front of the audience all your worries go away. I don't have any doubts. Everything will go all right.”

        Suzanne Herbert, 11, said she would be focusing on the new routine and expects to be a bit more nervous than usual.

        “I had seen the show a couple of times but never dreamed of being on,” said Suzanne, who is ending her second season with the Firecrackers.

        “It's going to be exciting being on live TV,” said Lauren Padgett, 13.

        The Letterman show is taped before a live audience and the girls will perform between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Most plan to stay up to watch themselves on TV at their hotel. The Letterman show is paying for their bus trip and expenses.

        Kings Superintendent David Query plans on going to New York to watch his granddaughter perform with the team. He calls the 6-year-old team a true American story.

        “Simply put, a physical education teacher had students learn jump rope stunts on their lunch hour and it ends up they're going to be on national television. That's a true success story. People love them and they're so energized,” Mr. Query said.

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