BHS Cheer Team Ready and Excited for Saturday's State Championship; Fan Night Dress Rehearsal Scheduled for Thursday
By Julie Perine on December 05, 2018 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Coach Natalie Hathaway couldn’t be happier about her cheer team traveling to Charleston for the West Virginia Class AA cheer competition. It’s been four years since Bridgeport has had a shot at the state title. In 2014 and 2013, the Tribe finished runner-up to RoC. Byrd.
RCB - which finished runner-up to BHS at the Nov. 3 Class AA, Region II championships - is among competitors at this year’s states to be held Saturday at the Charleston Civic Center. The entire field of competitors includes – in order of performance – Logan, Westside, Man, Weir, Winfield, Bridgeport, Keyser and RCB. Lincoln County has been added to the field of competitors after appealing a regional loss due to a timing issue.
Since capturing the regional title – and Nov. 7 Big 10 title at Buckhannon-Upshur High School - members of the BHS cheer team have been hard at work, perfecting the technical cheer and dance routine, tweaking jumps, tumbling, stunting, synchronization and transitions.
“We’ve seen the girls – especially the seniors – really stepping it up as they start to realize this is it for them,” Hathaway said. “The whole team has done a good job with the changes.”
Since the team’s success in November, the girls wanted to raise the bar, adding difficulty to the routine and to their individual tumbling.
The work has been put in and the girls have their eyes on the prize, but also the experience of a performance at the state championships.
“I’m excited for them to have that experience and have fun,” Hathaway said.
The squad will give the community a sneak peek Thursday evening at a fan night performance to be held 6:30 p.m. at the BHS gymnasium. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m.
“Our entire team has worked very hard and I am very excited for them and the opportunity that they have to perform at states,” said Assistant Coach Janet Hathaway. “They are an amazing group of athletes who have put in a lot of time and effort to earn this well-deserved trip to compete for a state championship.”
Members of the Indian cheer team are seniors Isabelle Cunanan, Lexi Galan, Sophie DelGreco and Ashley Weber; juniors Miranda Kress, Lindsey Suter, Sophia Gorby, Addison Boggs and Alyson Gibson and freshmen Lilly Strait, Gyllian Wagner, Emilia Underwood, Lauran Johnston, Rylee Mullins, Amelia Duarte, Jade Nguyen and Lillian Iaquinta.
Class AA competition begins at noon.
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“We would like to extend an invitation to all the Bridgeport fans out there to come out and support these girls on Saturday in Charleston,” Janet Hathaway said. “The girls really appreciate your support!”
Preceding Class AA will be Class A competition, beginning at 10 a.m. In order of performance, teams are Williamstown, Fayetteville, Midland Trail, Madonna, Tug Valley, Clay Battelle, Wheeling Central and Notre Dame. Following Class AA will be Class AAA competition at 2 p.m. Teams in order of performance are Spring Valley, Woodrow Wilson, George Washington, Brooke, Hurricane, Martinsburg, Wheeling Park and Jefferson.
