After placing second in states last season, the cheer team was focused on a comeback. This year the team got their wish and won the State Championship in the D1 Small Group Game Day Division and scored an 88/100 overall with no deductions on Dec. 2.
“I was very happy and excited [to win States] but mostly, I was excited to be doing it with some of the same people I started cheering with my freshman year,” senior Kimora Fulp said.
After their Varsity and JV coaches retired, the team was unsure about this year but with the help of their new head coach, Amanda Mcintyre, the varsity girls have grown a lot.
“Collectively, we have learned to understand the differences between the different types of coaching that athletes can be presented in. We have learned how to self manage and lead by ourselves a lot this year. This year we started out with a brand new coach and our previous coach was very specific, formal, and dedicated but a tad bit younger and more like our friend,” Fulp said.
Mcintyre graduated from West Forsyth in 2014 and later went to Appalachian State for cheerleading. She has worked with the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) staff for four years and was excited to take the role as head coach. Her main focus for her team was on strong game day cheer for both football and basketball.
“We have definitely improved. They started out with a whole new competition routine that was completely different from last year so that takes a while to learn and fix. We have nine seniors so they leave a lot. They were already a very strong team when I came in to be quite honest,” Mcintyre said.
The team is led by team senior captains Karly Smith and Skye Rice. Both captains have given a lot of work and dedication to the team.
“I wasn’t on the [varsity] team two years ago when they won and last year we got second place so this year winning as a senior was really meaningful because it was like my last chance to and we did it. [Cheerleading] is the only sport I’ve done in high school and it’s how I’ve made a lot of my friends and I have gotten a lot of opportunities from cheer,” Smith said.
Having lost so many seniors last year the team has struggled to maintain their level of competition.
“It is just being a new team and figuring out a new stunt group. I think 10 of us were new so it’s just different people from last year and having to figure out where everyone goes. Getting everyone from JV up to speed with varsity and for those that didn’t cheer last year also,” senior Hannah Bovender said.
Despite that, the girls have become closer than ever this season.
“We have had a lot of challenges but we definitely came together at the end,” junior Katie Patterson said.
The team has come a long way this season and have exceeded in many aspects of their routine and technical skills.
“The team has improved in our voices and expression on the sideline. Also by adding more adlibs [words that are added into cheers],” junior Jenna Cagle said.
Next time you watch these girls perform don’t forget about all the work and dedication that goes into their routine. Make sure to congratulate your fellow Titans on their win!