Tribe Falls Short of State Cheer Title; Wheeling Park, Winfield, Tug Valley Crowned Champions
By Julie Perine on December 10, 2018 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
When Bridgeport took the floor for warmups at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, a hush fell over the crowd. As the Lady Indians did a trial run of their competition routine – stellar stunting and tumbling, included – they had the full attention of spectators.
Had it all gone as it did in that run through – and dozens of previous practices – at competition time, the Tribe may have walked away Saturday with the WVSSAC Class AA cheer title. But stunting mishaps resulted in score deductions, landing Bridgeport fourth in the pool of nine competitors; regional winners and runners-up from around the state.
It was Winfield who was crowned Class AA champions. The Generals pulled off a smooth performance of technical cheer and dance featuring solid components and plenty of crowd participation.
Defending Class AA champions, The Lady Eagles of Robert C. Byrd, finished runners-up, followed by Logan in third place. Remaining Class AA competitors were Westside, Man, Weir, Keyser and Lincoln County.
This was the first year since 2014 that Bridgeport advanced to state competition.
The hometown team earned that honor this year by claiming the Class AA, Region II championship Nov. 3 at Robert C. Byrd High School. The Lady Eagles were runner-up. The Lady Indians went on to claim the Nov. 7 Big 10 cheer title at Buckhannon-Upshur High School.
From her own observance and comments of judges, BHS Coach Natalie Hathaway believes it was nerves that got between her cheerleaders and a state title. Still, the Tribe had a stellar run.
“We did have a super successful season,” she said. “I preach to them that last year – on our best day - we were fifth in our region and the growth from last year to this year has been insane. We won our region and the conference title, then at states - on our not best day - we were fourth in the state.”
She is so glad her four seniors had the opportunity to perform at state competition.
“They didn’t make it to states their freshman, sophomore or junior years and even though it didn’t pan out the way we wanted it to, they did get to have that experience,” she said.
With so many underclassmen on the squad – and with a state performance under their belts - the future of the Indian cheer team is bright.
“We did have a young team. We competed with 13 and six of them were freshmen, so they were lucky to have that experience, too,” Hathaway said.
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. Assisting Hathaway as coach is her mom, Janet Hathaway.
In Class A, Tug Valley claimed the title with Wheeling Central in the runner-up position. Also competing were Williamstown, Fayetteville, Midland Trail, Madonna, Clay Battelle and Notre Dame.
Claiming the Class AAA crown was a stellar Wheeling Park, followed by Jefferson as runner-up. Spring Valley, Woodrow Wilson, George Washington, Brooke, Hurricane and Martinsburg were other Class AAA competitors.
See a gallery below featuring some of the Class AA and AAA teams competing in Saturday's state cheer championships.
Editor's Note: See a gallery of photos by Ben Queen Photography HERE.
