They fly through the air with the greatest of ease.
The home basketball fans at Davie County High School get a special treat during halftime and timeouts of the basketball games. That’s when members of the Davie County cheerleader competition squad do their competition routine.
The competition squad joins the basketball cheerleader, coached by Lynn Ray, during the timeouts and halftime shows.
“Halftime is our time to showcase the talents of our cheerleaders,” said Tanya Bowles, who has been coaching the competition cheerleading team at Davie County for 10 years.
“It gives the cheerleaders a chance to sharpen up their routine to compete in the up-coming state competition in March,” she continued. “With the regional competition won, we are getting ready for state competition. They were second in the N.C. State 4A Cheerleading Championship last year and are working to be number one this year.”
The cheerleader competition squad starts practice in August each year.They cheer through football season and keep practicing through March for the state competition.
“Most young girls want to be cheerleaders,” said Maleia Meadows, a freshman. “I always wanted to be a cheerleader since I was real little. When we are preforming, it makes all the hard work and practice worthwhile.”
Making the competition squad is not easy. “Most girls have to have some skills before they come out,” Bowles said.
Cheerleaders don’t get a lot of credit for their hard work and practice. The N.C. High School Athletics Association doesn’t recognize cheerleading as a sport.
Yet, cheerleaders work as hard as ballplayers. Spectators may see as many injuries on cheerleaders as they do on the football team. Besides cheering, cheerleaders have to learn dancing, stunting and tumbling. They have to have the grace of a ballerina, plus the endurance and strength of a football player. They have to learn cheerleading routines, which are probably equal to most playbooks football players have to learn. They also have to keep their spirits high – win or lose.
“We know the harder we work will make us come out on top,” said Christin Grayson a senior. “Everyone gives 110 percent. It’s like a big puzzle. Everyone has a job to do, and we all work to make it come together.”
The competition squad prepares all school year to compete in regional and state competitions where their routines are scored
Judges then determine the best of the best.
“It’s hard work, with many hours of practice just for a two and-a-half minute routines,” Bowles said.
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