Bringing high energy in a packed home gym, the Rockbridge County High School competition cheerleading team placed third of five teams at the Wildcat Rumble on Wednesday night in Lexington.
The top three teams received trophies, with Salem winning and RC’s Shenandoah District rival Stuarts Draft placing second. Also competing were Christiansburg and Luray County. Team scores were not provided.
The Wildcats, who had won their home competition last September before going on to earn their first-ever regional title in program history and placing eighth in the Class 3 state competition, have a younger team this year after graduating seven seniors last year. RC has five seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen. Four of the RC cheerleaders are on the team for the first time this year.
Each team’s routine was required to last at least two minutes and 30 seconds and no more than three minutes, with music for no more than one minute and 45 seconds.
Cheering for the Wildcats, under the direction of seventh-year head coach Shannon Bryan and assistant coach Sarah Parnell, are seniors Lillian Ballard, Gabriella Brown, Riley McDaniel, Emma Mines and Willow Rogers; juniors Makenna Brinkley, Maria Calomeris and Celia Jones; sophomores Sofia Gaydos, Emmalee Grimm, Ariana Mitchell, Natasha Shorter and Chloe Zollman; and freshman Alaina Early and Josellyn Fitz.
RC, which placed third in the Valley District last fall, switched to the Shenandoah District this year.
Next up the Wildcats will compete at William Byrd High School in Vinton on Saturday, Sept. 27.
For the full story and photos from the home competition, with comments from Coach Bryan, please see our Sept. 24 newspaper.
