Jesse C. Carson High claimed first place in last Saturday’s All-Rowan County High School Cheerleading Championship, in the process taking home the prestigious Jessica Grady Cup for the second year in a row.
Held at the Cabarrus Arena, the competition couldn’t have been much tighter. Carson won with 85 points, followed by East Rowan with 83, West Rowan with 79.83, Salisbury with 79.17 and North Rowan with 76.5. South Rowan did not compete.
The Grady Cup is a rotating award. The winning school keeps it for a year before bringing it back and trying to win the cup again at the next year’s competition. The cup is named for Jessica Grady, a West Rowan cheerleader from 2002 to 2004 who was killed in an automobile accident.
Saturday’s championship also served as the venue at which the All-Rowan County Cheerleaders for 2010-2011 were announced. Coaches from each school nominated up to four cheerleaders and submitted videos for judging prior to Saturday’s championship.
The 2010-2011 All-Rowan County Cheerleaders are:
• Taylor Campbell, Jesse C. Carson High
• Kayla Morris, East Rowan High
• Nicole Messina, Jesse C. Carson High
• Emily Hiatt, Jesse C. Carson High
• Allison Baucom, West Rowan High
• Masyn Burgess, East Rowan High
• Kristin Harmon, North Rowan High
• Nicole Chamberlain, Salisbury High
• Jesse Troutman, Jesse C. Carson High
In addition, Taylor Campbell was named “Player of the Year” and won a $200 cash award.
The All-Rowan County High School Cheerleading Championship was co-directed by Jessica Moore and Judy Corriher. Nationally certified judges selected the winning teams.