Bulldogs, Pioneers cheer up to first-place finishes

ROGERS — For hundreds of thousands of young people, cheerleading is a bridge between sports teams and fans during any indoor or outdoor event. But cheerleading is much, much more than a group of individuals standing on the sideline or baseline at football or basketball games. Cheerleading is both a real sport and an art form.

Three local cheer teams traveled to Rogers to show off the many skills the teams have learned thus far this season and to have a little fun and fellowship.

The Decatur Bulldogs, Gentry Pioneers and Siloam Springs Panthers participated in the War Eagle Invitational Cheer competition at Heritage High School in Rogers Nov. 23.

Teams from northwest and central Arkansas competed in either senior high game day, junior varsity game day, coed performance, and all-girls performance in class 2A-6A. Some of the other schools included host team Rogers

Heritage, Bentonville West, Fayetteville, Bryant, Bentonville, Cedarville, Pea Ridge, Springdale and Van Buren.

The three-minute routine showcased each team’s ability to perform three functions of a cheer team, which included dance, chant and formation segments. Four judges awarded points to each of the teams based on their ability to complete each task and to work together to bring the crowd into a game situation.

At the end of the day, trophies were awarded to the first- and second-place teams in 2A-3A, 4A, 3A-4A and 5A-6A division.

What is remarkable about these cheer competitions is the real sense of togetherness between the 15 teams. In addition to the cheer teams’ cheerleaders of parents, friends and supporters, other team members would gather in front of the mat in support of the others’ routines. A few team members from Siloam Springs came over during the Decatur and

Gentry performances; Decatur and Gentry showed their support for the Siloam team, as well.

The Decatur Bulldogs brought home the firstplace trophy in the 2A game day division, the second such award in two years for the cheer team.

The Gentry Pioneers took first in the 4A allgirls performance division, while the Siloam Springs Panthers brought home a first-place trophy in the 5A-6A coed performance division.

These cheer competitions are geared to help the teams work out problems in each of their routines before the state cheer competition in mid-December.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS The Decatur High School cheer team goes through its opening dance routine during the Nov. 23 War Eagle Invitational cheer competitions at Heritage High in Rogers. The team consists of Kaylee Morales (left), Mayra Flores, Emmy Lee, Lauro Molina, Ithzel Martinez, Sofia DiGiovine, Korbin Grey and Heidi Rubi.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS As a teammate does a backflip, the Gentry Pioneer cheer team sets up for the finale of its routine during the War Eagle Invitational Cheer competition in Rogers Nov. 23. The Pioneer team took first place in the 4A allgirl performance division.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Decatur cheer team members Lauro Molina (left), Kaylee Morales, Ithzel Martinez and Heidi Rubi (partially hidden) finish up their cheer routine during the War Eagle Invitational Cheer competition at Heritage High School in Rogers Nov. 23.