Ringgold cheerleaders eyeing back-to-back 6-AAA titles
The Ringgold High School competition cheerleading squad won the Region 6-AAA title last year, besting a field that included three-time state champion Bremen and six-time state champion Calhoun.
And the Blue-andWhite have their sights set just as high in 2017.
Anchored by a group of seven strong seniors, the Tigers are thinking big now that the new season has begun.
“We’ve been looking great so far,” said assistant coach Chelsea Walker. “We recently had our first competition, and even though (our routine) wasn’t perfect, we did see a lot of areas where we can improve, so that’s good. We’re really wanting to make it back-to-back region championships this year.”
Regardless of whether they ultimately win another region title or not, Ringgold, along with every other squad in the state, is assured of a spot in state due to a new GHSA rules change. However, Walker said her team is still motivated to win its region and be in the mix for their first state title.
“We got fifth in state last year and I think (the girls) are coming back with a vengeance,” Walker said. “They want to do better than that this year. We have a really strong region, as far as competition cheerleading goes, and I think (having all teams at state) is really going to help our region. I think the fifth place team in our region last year would have been top 10 at state, so I think (this change) will be good for our entire region.”
Ringgold will be led by seniors Addy Allen, Emily Brock, Mariah Clark, Hali Clements, Danna Dalton, Callie Gilbert and Chloe Gray.
“I think this group of seniors have been leaders since they were freshmen,” Walker explained. “They are always encouraging the rest of the team and getting them ready for what’s to come. It’s going to be sad to see them go.”
Behind that group is a junior class made up of Madeline Bates, Maddie Mills and Janna Perpinan. The sophomore contingent includes Brianna Andrews, Mary-Kate Bullock, Mikayla Cook, Alexa Goolsby, Melayna Maynor, Georgie Moeller and Mckenzie Sparks, while Gabi Clarke, Izzy Hood, Makenna Jones, Sydney Logan and Laura Smith made up this year’s freshman class.
“They are really good at everything and they keep working hard,” Walker continued. “We had a little situation where we had to go from four stunt groups down to three, but they’ve still been able to hit everything, keep all 16 (cheerleaders) on the floor and hit the hardest pyramid that you can have on the rubric (score sheet).”
Walker said the key to the season is making it count on that one day.
“That’s what is so good about cheerleading, in my opinion,” she began “”You work all season, go to competitions and try to find ways to improve your score. Every competition gives you an opportunity to beat what you did the week before and I think that’s good for a team.”