Charger Cheer flies to top 10 national finish
Feb 21, 2019 11:50AM ● By Catherine Garrett
The Corner Canyon High varsity and junior varsity cheer teams each had top 10 finishes at the National High School Cheerleading Championships Feb. 8–10 in Orlando, Florida. The varsity team also finished second at the 5A state event on Jan. 26. Four members were named to the All-State team. (Photo courtesy Whitney Lunt)
By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]
The Corner Canyon High varsity and junior varsity cheer teams both took top 10 finishes at the National High School Cheerleading Championships Feb. 8–10 in Orlando, Florida.
“We are so proud of their accomplishments,” said head coach Whitney Lunt. “This is our first team that has competed through both prelims and semis to get to finals so it was a big accomplishment.”
The varsity squad advanced through the first two rounds hitting perfect routines before a missed stunt and a drop placed them seventh overall out of 52 teams. The JV team also had a flawless routine in the preliminary round and placed 10th among the 32 teams competing.
“The girls handled it with grace and were clapping and cheering loud for all of the other teams that placed higher than them,” Lunt said. “The biggest thing that I noticed throughout the weekend is how much these teams and girls love each other. Even though both teams had disappointments and didn’t end up where they wanted to be they turned to each other and got through it together.”
The Chargers’ varsity team, who placed second at the 5A state event Jan. 26, was led by seniors Leighton Davis, Riley Pomikala, Julia Smith and Kaitlin Talbot, who were named All-State. The JV team won first place at the state meet. Also on the 2018–19 squad are Lauren Adams, Lily Baird, Rylee Cotterell, Bailey Davis, Samantha De La Cruz, Bergan Hill, Kiki Howard, Kim Liljenquist, Derby Marshall, Emilie Mecham, Ada Medel, Brooklynne Nelson, Sierra Olivier, Bethany Rooklidge, Arielle Taylor, Kyra Thayne, Madisyn Wankier, Kenna Warburton, Macy Watts, Taylee Westra, Baylee Winkel and Kylie Wood. Lunt was assisted by coaches McKenzy Young, Bria Bowthorpe, Jeremy Seiver and Stephanie Sampson. Additionally, Davis was named Academic All-State and the UCTCA Scholarship recipient.
“This is the first time they’ve ever given a scholarship at state and they only gave one out for the entire state so it’s pretty amazing that she was selected,” Lunt said.
