KMS 2nd at Game Day state
STATE RUNNER-UP - Members of the Kingfisher junior high cheerleading squad are, from left: front row, Angela Munoz, Mia Hartman, Anna Massey, Talor Mecklenburg, Harlie Schlegal, Natalie Garrett, Libbie Barnett, Addison Wilson, Ella Thomas, Ashley Casillas
Kingfisher’s junior high cheerleading team brought home more hardware over the weekend.
The group finished as runner-up at the Class 4A Junior High Game Day state competition at Choctaw High School.
Kingfi sher finished with 280 points. Pauls Valley won the state championship with 315.
The teams were judged on game day material, crowd effectiveness, crowd leading tools, ability to lead the crowd, proper use of skills, motion technique, synchronization, execution of skills, crowd appeal and overall impression.
“We were very proud of them,” said Chrissy Wensman, the cheer team sponsor. “Half of the team had never performed in that setting before.”
Kingfisher won the state title a year ago in the fi rst year of the Game Day competition. The fi eld doubled in size this year.
“This is a talented group of girls with strong jumpers and tumblers,” Wensman said. “All of them have different attributes that make the team what it is. They endured hours of practice with nothing but positive attitudes.
“They’re going to make successful high school cheerleaders.”
First-year cheer coach Sarah Keeth Sherwood will lead the high school team into Game Day state this weekend at Moore High School.
She said the junior high competition was a great building block for the future of the program.
“This has been a great experience to show them punctuality, teamwork and dedication and we feel this experience will prepare them for high school level and future job opportunities,” Sherwood said. “Most importantly, you have 25 girls coming together to share an experience they’ll never forget.”