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Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008

Mossy Creek, Bonaire take top middle school cheerleading spots

In the sport of cheerleading, it all comes down to a few minutes on one day.

That day was Saturday at Warner Robins High School, at the county middle school cheerleading championship.

Cheerleaders from all eight schools performed two-minute routines that were judged on several factors, including degree of difficulty of the stunts they executed, according to Gail Brown, a former judge and coach who emceed the event.

Judges also look for the sharpness of the routine, whether the team performs together and their knowledge of the routine, Brown said.

A fall results in a large deduction from the total points, as does any illegal stunt.

Middle school cheerleaders start working in June with camp and practice several hours a day for months.

"We work really hard," said Megan Gibbs, a seventh-grade team member from Thomson Middle School. Along with team practice, she said, many cheerleaders take individual gymnastic practice to improve their stunt performance.

Megan, who is what is known as a flyer - a team member who climbs to the top of pyramids - said she is never nervous when she's 8-10 feet up in the air.

"It's all about trust in cheerleading," she said. "You have to trust your teammates."

If someone does happen to falter, Megan said, no individual blame is laid.

"We are a team," she said. "Our coaches tell us that over and over."

Mossy Creek dominated the day, with first-place finishes in both seventh- and eighth-grade competition.

Mossy Creek's seventh-grade cheerleaders are Marissa Bickford, Amanda Bodony, Madison Daniels, Madyson Carlson, Kara Walker, Alexis Tillery, Kylee Spangenburg, Katelyn Stuckey, Morgan Peavy, Jessica Sharples, Jessica Payne, Jordan Mathis, Emily Scheideler, Desiree Land, Ashlyn Reaves and Anna Collins.

The team is coached by Faith Terry.

Mossy Creek's eighth-grade cheerleaders are Sydney Brewer, Rachel Bridges, Amber Carnes, McKenna Cornett, Aly Cowart, Sydney Creamer, Ansley Gentry, Halie Manion, Lauriel Mills, Sarah Parker, Kianna Peoples, Imani Riley, Megan Shuttlesworth, Sarah Tankersley, Taylor Toms and Haleigh Wilson.

The team is coached by Jenny Gutshall.

Finishing in second place in both the seventh- and eighth-grade divisions - was Bonaire.

Bonaire's seventh-grade team includes Erin Butler, Asiza Cherry, Peyton Cunningham, Jill Davis, Mattie Holt, Mollie Lauritsen, Alicia Lewis, Taylor Liszewski, Shannon Lowry, Hannah McMillan, Makayla Pierce, Mary Ivy Pool, Tabitha Sanders, Jalyn Slaughter, Cortney Spraggins, Olivia Sullivan, Ally Warlick and Savannah Wilkes.

The team is coached by Telisa Cunningham and Renae Sleeth.

Bonaire's eighth-grade team includes Emily Allison, Danielle Bard, Brianna Bare, Aliyah Caldwell, Olivia Cranford, Cierra Drake, Kaley Guenthner, Miranda Hobbs, Savannah Johnson, Katlyn Kieweg, Ashtyn Love, Ashley Marolf, Daylan McDaniel, Taylor McHenry, Emily Singletary, Lauren Stineman and Anna Grace Teague.

The team is coached by Serena Washington.