Cheer Competition

 For the first time ever Panguitch Cheer took their skills to state competition on January 14th.  The wrestlers were great and hung signs up on each cheerleaders door just like they do for all the other sports!  They did have a little help from some of the student-body (ie - girls).  Jeff and I woke early on Saturday morning with Addison in tow.  Garrett and Kimber opted to stay home and watch Leighton.  That actually worked out great - we were just sitting for long stretches of time waiting and Leighton would have been beastly to keep content!

Just before heading out to take to the mats.

Their cheer routine.  McKenna is front row on the right.

Still the cheer portion.  Notice the spotters?  How on earth have they ever been able to perform without them!  I wonder if they actually made the girls a little nervous!  Again McKenna is front and on the right with the "White" sign.

The start of their dance.  Again McKenna is back to her fav spot - front and right!

The end of the dance routine.  McKenna is front and left on base.

They recognize the all academic cheer girls.  They have to maintain a 3.7 GPA throughout High School to qualify for this honor.  Panguitch had 5!  The most out of any of the schools!  1A through 5A!

After the competition, all the teams were called onto the mats.  They "moshed" while all the scores were being tallied.  It actually looked like a lot of fun!

Our girls taking state for 1A cheer!  They actually had a combined score higher than some of the 2A schools!

Panguitch High Cheer Squad

Panguitch High Cheer Squad and Captains

Panguitch has a fun tradition of bringing home the state champs by Emergency Department from about 10 miles out of town.  The girls were honored as well.  The fire department and sheriff's department met the girls at 10 mile - the turn off to Bear Valley.  Parents and friends met them as well and escorted the girls through the traditional route through town...lights flashing, horns honking and lots of yelling!  Garrett even lit a few fireworks on our lane as they drove by...shhh...don't tell the sheriff's department that was escorting the girls into town!  Ending up at the High School, we all met in the gym for a moment of congratulations to the winning squad.  L to R:  Harleigh Allen, Katelyn Julander, Brenna Mooney, Morgan Barney, Natalie Birch, Baylee Palmer, Maryn Mooney, Avery Veater, Katelyn Peterson, Kendra Sawyer, Jaylee Brienholt, Chelsee Draper, McKenna Finch, Cassidy Fehr.

Junior Cheerleaders - McKenna, Cassidy, and Baylee

Another shot of the PHS Cheerleaders

These girls are terrific!  After the competition and the teams were waiting for results, the Utah High School Athletic Head over Cheer recognized the judges and then the coaches for all their efforts.  Out of all those teams, 1A through 5A, our team was the only ones who stood up, turned to their coaches and applauded them!  Such great girls!  I was so proud of them as a mom of one of those cheerleaders!  I have often felt that the youth in our area are remarkable as I visit them around the stake in my calling - but this affirmed my admiration in them outside of those youth activities!  Thanks for your example!