The Whitesboro High School (WHS) cheer team advanced to the final round of the UIL State Championship last week at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
The team had been practicing their qualifying competition routine since mid-November once their football season was over.
The Varsity team consisted of just 15 girls, and 20 athletes were allowed on the competition floor, so five cheerleaders from the Junior Varsity team were able to join the competition.
The team also had three alternates who were dedicated to knowing the routine and prepared to fill in for any outstanding circumstances.
The WHS cheer team performed at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4. They competed against 47 other 3A DI teams and qualified for the finals round.
“At around 4 p.m. the results of the qualifying round were announced in the arena and we all cheered so loud when we heard our name called first!” Varsity Coach Katelyn Carney said. “We were happy to hear that the S&S cheer team also qualified for the State Championship round in 3A DII.”
Making it to the finals was just the first hurdle. The next challenge was still to come.
The finals round includes an added level of difficulty, requiring teams to work a “situational response” into their routine.
To imitate a Game Day environment, an announcer gives a cue that might be heard at a football game. The cue lets the competitors know if they are responding to an offense or defense situation.
Whitesboro performed at 7:45 p.m., competing against the top 21 teams in the state. The team placed 20th.
“I am so proud of our girls and the work that they put in for this competition,” Carney said. “They gave 110% on their qualifying routine and left it all on the mat. They really earned their spot in the finals!”
The team felt great about the overall experience of this year’s competition.
“Our seniors and juniors got to experience qualifying for finals for a second time and our freshmen and sophomores for the first time,” Carney said. “This gives them so much valuable knowledge for the upcoming years.”
the top 21 teams in the state. The team placed 20th.
“I am so proud of our girls and the work that they put in for this competition,” Carney said. “They gave 110% on their qualifying routine and left it all on the mat. They really earned their spot in the Finals!”
As an added bonus, Whitesboro was able to watch and root for the S&S High School cheer team, who competed in the 3A DII division. (S&S placed 17th out of 20 in the Finals.)
The WHS team felt great about the overall experience of this year’s competition.
“Our seniors and juniors got to experience qualifying for finals for a second time and our freshmen and sophomores for the first time,” Carney said. “This gives them so much valuable knowledge for the upcoming years.”
