SANFORD — The Richmond Senior High School cheerleading team competed in the first of its three competitions this winter on Saturday.
Competing in the Sandhills Athletic Conference competition at Southern Lee High School, the Lady Raiders placed second out of the seven teams.
Richmond registered a total score of 216.7 points, which was a culmination of the judges’ scores. Pinecrest High School finished the day in first place.
With all 13 members of the team competing, seniors Cayden Hood and Sanajia Tillman were selected as Richmond’s two representatives to the All-SAC team.
Hood has been a four-year varsity cheerleader and Tillman has spent the last three seasons with the varsity squad.
Teams were judged on 11 different categories: cheer, expression and showmanship, motions, jumps, dance, sportsmanship, partner stunts, pyramids, flow of routine, perfection of skills and overall effect.
Richmond’s point totals were as follows: cheer (24), expression and showmanship (24.5), motions (21.5), jumps (16), dance (16), sportsmanship (14), partner stunts (27), pyramids (14), flow of routine (14.5), perfection of skills (21.2) and overall effect (24).
“I thought the girls did amazing and they worked really hard,” head coach Meredith Hood said. “They hit all of their stunts, did a great job on their pyramid and represented Richmond really well.
“Cayden and Sanajia have been with us a long time and they’ve done really well all season. They are both really good kids.”
The Lady Raiders, who just started their basketball cheer season on Friday, will fine-tune their routine for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state competition on December 3. Also speaking about Saturday’s SAC competition are seniors Akira Jackson and Tatum Rhyne, along with Abby Williams and Madisyn Locklear. View their video interviews below.
