‘Wild’ly successful at Game Day
Cashion cheer finishes as state runner-up for 3rd time in 5 years
STATE RUNNERS-UP – Cashion High School’s Game Day cheerleading team was the Class 2A state runner-up last weekend in Moore. Taking part in the routines were, from left: front row, Lindsay Miller, Avery Cotter, Cheyanne Martinez, Jaidyn Hudson, Taylor
The Cashion High School cheerleading team didn’t get the ultimate trophy it was striving for last weekend, but it still made history.
Cashion was announced as the state runner-up Saturday after the finals performances in the Class 2A Game Day state championships at Moore High School.
It’s the third time Cashion has finished as the runner-up since Game Day competitions began in 2017.
Teams were also second in 2018 and 2019 while finishing third in 2020 and fourth in 2017 and 2021.
However, this year’s team did something no other Cashion team has done: It was crowned the regional champion the week before.
“That’s the first time in school history,” said Amber Hobgood, who coaches the team along with Casi Williams. “We had girls on the mat who had never cheered before and did awesome.”
Fifteen teams competed at the state competition and performed a three-minute routine in the preliminary round.
Categories judged are fight song, crowd leading and band dance to arrive at an overall score.
The top-six teams advance from the preliminar-ies and perform again in the finals.
Cashion was second and Crescent third after the preliminary round.
Dibble stood in first place with a 642.2.
Cashion totaled a 638.8 and Crescent, which won the competitive cheerleading state title in September, was awarded 629.2 points.
Also moving on were Haworth (615.2), Southwest Covenant (611.8) and Arkoma (605).
After a quick turnaround, the teams performed again.
Dibble earned a 276.6 to win the state title for a second straight year.
Cashion was awarded a 274.4, Haworth a 265 and Crescent a 264.8 to take fourth.
“I’m so proud of these kids that came together and accomplished something on Saturday,” Hobgood said.
Game Day routines include a handful of students who aren’t a part of the traditional cheerleading squad.
“We had to work around girls basketball, boys basketball and football schedules,” Hobgood said. “We’re so thankful for a small school where we get the chance to share athletes.”
Three other factors made this a special season for Cashion. With crowd leading being a part of the criteria, fan participation helps. “I’m thankful for everyone who showed up to support these kids,” Hobgood said. “Our fans showed up for regionals and state and were loud!” Second, members of Cashion’s team choreographed their own routines with help from the two coaches. “It’s very rare to not hire an outside choreographer,” Hobgood said. “And our girls were able to do it on their own and end up as regional champs and state runners-up.”
Lastly, two of the team members are Reese Williams and Abby Hobgood… daughters of the two coaches.
“It’s pretty special for Casi and myself to get to coach our own kids, too,” Hobgood said.