The Rockbridge County High School cheerleaders placed third of seven teams at the Shenandoah District competition on Wednesday night in Lexington.
The Wildcats were one of three Class 3 teams to advance to the Region 3C competition, and they were in the top three from Class 3. The others were Staunton and Waynesboro. Last year, the Wildcats placed second at the district competition and sixth at the Region 3C competition.
Defending its district title was Stuarts Draft, while Fort Defiance placed second. Both are Class 2 teams. Following the Wildcats in the standings were Waynesboro, Buffalo Gap, Staunton and Riverheads.
RC overcame the challenge of dropping to 13 athletes the day before the competition due to sickness. “Positions were changed that day, and the team didn’t let that stop them,” said RC head coach Shannon Bryan. “They hit zero [had zero scoresheet deductions] for the second time this season and love the support of their family, friends and community at their second home competition this season.”
THE WILDCATS perform a basket toss, with two flyers, freshman Sophia Hanna (left) and junior Chloe Zollman. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
Four Wildcats received all-district honors. Senior Makenna Brinkley and junior Tasha Shorter were named to the all-district first team, while juniors Emmalee Grimm and Ariana Mitchell were selected to the all-district second team.
Other cheerleaders for the Wildcats, under the direction of Bryan and assistant coaches Sarah Parnell and Alli Thomas, are seniors Maria Calomeris, Lilly Gist, Celia Jones, Destiny Peach and Chase Potter; juniors Harper Bruno, Jordyn Fitzgerald, Sophia Sloan and Chloe Zollman; sophomores Alaina Early and Josellyn Fitz; and freshman Sophia Hanna.
“This team has worked hard, overcome challenges, and continued to show up for one another; [coming] together as a team means so much more.” said Bryan, in her third year of coach, “Coaching them is a privilege I’ll never take for granted. So proud of this team and the journey we’re on together.”
The Wildcats will advance to the Region 3C competition, which is scheduled for this Saturday at Harrisonburg High School, starting at noon.
SEVERAL RC cheerleaders throw freshman Sophia Hanna in the air for the Wildcats’ basket toss. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
