At the end of their final routine on Sunday, Feb. 2, at the National High School Cheer Championship in Orlando, Fla., the Bryant High School cheer team felt pretty good about their work.
Our team was elated after the performance (on Sunday) and felt confident that we would place in the top three teams,” allowed Coach Karen Scarlett.
Top three, indeed. When the judges’ handed down the results, they weren’t third and they weren’t second.
“Hearing Bryant called as the National Champions was the greatest feeling!” Scarlett related.
The team includes Amber Billingsley, Halie Buchanan, Matison Bunch, Jana Collins, Emily Davis, Landon Fincher, Keedy Harrison, Madison Henjum, Sydney Henjum, Haley Hood, Skylar Jewett, Kayla Johnson, Maddy Laisure, Kaitlynn Long, Abby McGee, Brooke McGinness, Maddie Murphy, Alex Nelson, Claire Olsen, Rachael Owens, Rachel Phillips, Sydney Reynolds, Jordan Sawyer, Caitlyn Small, Hannah Smith, Maddy Toler, Olivia Williams and Skye Young .
Bryant competed against 12 other teams in the Large Varsity Non-Tumbling Division. After Saturday’s semifinals, Bryant was second to Exeter High School of Reading, Pa., by 0.8 of a point.
“We hit a very solid routing with only a couple of bobbles in our stunts,” Scarlett recalled. “We worked on the items the judges commented about on our score sheets and hit a more solid routine in the finals on Sunday.”
She noted that the team had been through a lot before getting to Orlando.
“We overcame various injuries throughout the year, including senior Captain Brooke McGinness’ torn ACL,” she explained. “Sophomore Maddy Toler had to fly out later than the team because she was recovering from the flu. She has also been performing with two fractures in her ankle for the last couple of months. Senior Captain Alex Nelson also performed with an injured wrist and will have surgery to repair damage from a prior surgery.”
Obviously, the squad overcame that adversity to spectacular effects.
“We are very thankful to our families and friends that made the trip with us and cheered us on,” Scarlett said. “But also thankful to our administration, family, friends, and community that supported us from here at home and were instrumental in actually getting us to the competition.”
