APEX, N.C. — Three Richmond County cheerleading teams competed in the North Carolina Cheerleading Coaches Association state championship competition at Apex Friendship High School on Saturday.
The Richmond Senior High School cheerleading team was in attendance, while the Ellerbe and Rockingham middle school teams also participated.
Although all three teams put forth strong efforts on the mat, none of the Richmond County squads placed in their respective division.
The Lady Raiders finished in the top four of the high school varsity medium division one grouping. Taking the top spot was Cardinal Gibbons High School, followed by Clayton High School.
Representing the Lady Raiders one last time in competition were seniors Gracie Allen, Carly Batson, Jali Blue, Caroline Freeman, Amiya Griffin, Makayla Russell, and Allexis Swiney.
Other team members to participate in the pyramid, tumbling and cheer routine were juniors Carissa Byrne, J’Niya Covington, Macy Faw, Elena Hall, Hannah Hinshaw and Emma Perry, along with sophomores Marley Moss and Lexi Watson, and freshmen Cayden Hood and Savannah Jordan.
“I thought the girls did an awesome job today,” head coach Meredith Hood said. “They hit all their stunts and looked really good. Last time we competed, it was right after we lost to Vance in the playoffs. The girls were down then, but we had a great week of practice leading up to today.
“We struggled in warmups, but they came out here and hit everything they needed to,” she continued. “They sold every move and seemed to want it more.”
Of her seniors, Hood said she wished the team would have placed for their sake, but added she “was very proud of them for coming a long way, becoming good leaders and making the team fun” the last couple of years.
In the middle school non-tumbling division, the Lady Wildcats and Lady Rockets competed in a field of seven schools. Neither graced the top four to earn recognition by the NCCCA judges.
Maiden Middle School (Maiden, N.C.) won the state championship, followed by Durant Road Middle School (Raleigh, N.C.) in second.
Last season, the Lady Rockets and head coach Kendall Hornbuckle took second place in the event. A year prior to that, Rockingham was the state championship winner.
Lady Rocket cheerleaders to perform Saturday were: Laney Dawkins, Presley Dawkins, Jentry Denson, Rylie Driggers, Ella Gibson, Madison Grimes, Jordin Harrington, Kylie Hood, Laney Keane, Care Kinsey, Madilyn Martin, Serenity Robinson, Kaley Scholl, Karley Simmons, Hanna Smith, Ka’Mora Watkins and Emma Williams.
Team members not present due to prior commitments were Madison Burnett and Emma Humann.
The Rockingham cheerleaders perform part of their routine on Saturday.
For Ellerbe, head coach Jordyn Pillar and the Lady Wildcats returned to the competition for the first time in two years. In 2018, Ellerbe placed fourth in the state when this year’s group of eighth graders were in their first year of middle school.
Competing for the Lady Wildcats were: Mia Green, Caroline Hunsucker, Emily Juarez, Gracie Mabe, Faith Massey, Natalie Meacham, Sarah Meacham, Savannah Powell, Ally Russell, Kayleigh Strickland and Cadence Wilson.
Not at the competition for Ellerbe, put members of the team, were Adena Gibson and Shadea Harrison.
Faith Massey (left) and Ally Russell (right) are lifted up in a stunt during the state championship.
According to the NCCCA, the money raised through the competition goes toward providing scholarships for rising college freshman cheerleaders across the state. Last year, $10,000 was awarded to a handful of recipients.
Money is also used to provide this year’s junior class with funding for the All-State team, which will hold tryouts on Sunday. That team will cheer at the annual East-West football game in Greensboro in July.
Richmond’s Greg Williams, whose daughter Emma cheers for Rockingham, was named as a member of the East-West coaching staff this summer. He’s an assistant head coach with the Raiders.
ROSports will update this article when final points totals are made available.
