Greenbrier West’s competition cheerleaders brought home a fourth-place finish in the West Virginia State Cheerleading Competition on Saturday. The event took place on the campus of Marshall University at the Cam Henderson Center. The Cavaliers took the floor as the last Class A team to perform. They didn’t disappoint.
Each routine is broken up into two segments. The first segment is known as the technical portion. The opening salvo of the routine, it’s worth 30 percent of the total score and routinely lasts 30-40 seconds. Within this segment, the group must perform two different jumps. The cheer is synchronized, and the participants cannot touch one another. Judging takes place on the mechanics and motions of routine.
The Cavaliers formed an arrowhead pointed directly at the judges with Raelyn Palmer at the point. Palmer raised her right arm into the air and sharply slapped it down to her thigh to begin the Cavaliers’ routine. The front three cheerleaders, Palmer, Gabbie Lilly, and Lexxi Bragg, dropped to one knee as the back four raised their arms. Skylar Cox and Kaleen Fisher formed the barbs while Tania Redden and Olivia Gunnoe formed the shaft of the arrowhead and all seven members loudly proclaimed “it’s now or never” as the cheer began. The entire group began a series of five synchronized jumps, all the while belting out their intention of winning the competition.
As they took turns stepping in unison, the unit moved right, then backwards, to their left, and finally to the front of the mat. It was a glittery burst of energy. Each movement included at least two or three members tumbling. When the flurry stopped, it ended with a pointed statement. “We’ll be your new state champs in class single A.” The crowd roared its approval.
After a brief breather, Greenbrier West formed a triangle and stem that was again pointed directly at the judges. In synchrony, the team ran their hands through their hair and the action began. Five cheerleaders in the center did back handsprings and back tucks toward the back of the mat. The two cheerleaders on the edge started their part facing away from the judges and used handsprings and tucks to come to the front of the mat. As they moved about the mat, two small groups came together, briefly lifting Bragg and Lilly into the air. Using the entire mat, Greenbrier West moved horizontally, vertically, and diagonally before meeting in the center of the mat.
Lilly, the flyer, was hoisted into the air and performed a variety of stunts while being based by Cox, Palmer, and Fisher. In measured bursts, Bragg and Gunnoe tumbled while Redden remained in close proximity, basing as needed. The was the elite stunt, lasting approximately 30 seconds through the middle of the routine, followed by a transition to running tumbling. The group came together for a pyramid then broke into a choreographed dance rountine. Once again, the crowd exploded into applause.
Greenbrier West finished fourth in the eight-team competition with 282.50 points, narrowly missing third place by less than two points. Tug Valley was the champion with 327.15 points, with Man runners-up at 307.20, and Wheeling Central third at 284.15. Behind the Cavaliers, the bottom four were Midland Trail, Doddridge County, Williamstown, and Petersburg.
Cavalier head coach Shannon Gilkeson had this to say about her team’s performance. “I’m extremely proud of my team. We only had seven cheerleaders competing in our routine, and I don’t think anyone realizes how hard that is. To place fourth, nobody could be more excited than I am!” This was Gilkeson’s seventh trip to the state tournament, also leading the Cavaliers to participate in 2004, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘16, and ‘20.
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