Elkins cheer competes at regionals

Cheerleaders perform the longest seasons of any other sport. The season begins in June with regular flex practices where basic skills are learned and bonds are made.

In August, tryouts are held, and we start learning our routine with a choreographer, along with football sideline cheer.

Practices are held every day from 3-5, so we can perfect our routine before completion quickly approaches.

After the competition season is over we later move into basketball sideline.

Besides the Friday night lights and basketball side lines you can find the EHS cheer team competing.

This weekend Elkins High School cheer team competed at Lincoln High School for regionals, where they finished in 4th place. The team will take to the floor again to perform at Big 10 located at Preston High School.

Also last week the team held a showcase open to the public to come watch their hard work. EHS, EMS, and the Bengals all performed a cheer and routine.

What are the rules for competition?

Cheer has many rules and regulations. Cheer is one of sports that is most prone for injuries, so making sure athletes are staying in good condition is standard.

Many stunts are illegal and can not be thrown because of safety; even the way you hold your flyer can be illegal.

During a competition, there are safety judges who will watch every little thing to make sure what you are doing is safe. If the judges see anything they think is unsafe, it points off, which will affect the overall scoring of the routine.

Safety/before competing.

Before competing, you are able to run through stunts and tumbling before you go for a safety check.

During a safety check the team will line up and hold out your hands to check fingernails. Fingernails cannot be seen over your finger tips. Acrylics, press ons, etc are prohibited.

Next, all jewelry must be out, and hair can not be past your shoulders; you also cannot touch your hair when you are performing.

What does a cheer routine consist of? What do cheerleaders do?

A cheer routine is combined with dance, tumbling, and stunting but before you get started, you have to perform a 30 to 40-second cheer as your opener.

A cheer consists of sharp motions and jumps. Such as a hurdler, toe touch, and pike. After the cheer we have one minute to wait on the mat before we get set to start the routine.

A cheer routine is based on a level and point system. How hard can your tumbling be? How hard are your stunts? How sharp and hard hitting can your motions and dance be?

Any cheer routine consists of scoring 100 points, 50 points being based on a technical cheer and the other 50 on the routine. A technical cheer has jumps and motions all while using your guts to yell words. The technical cheer is an opener before your routine.

How does a cheer competition run?

Once your cheer is over one person is selected to raise an arm and wait for the judges to signal that they are ready for us to perform. Once the judges give the signal the music person is then directed to start. Then we get our music cue and go for it!

After the routine we sit and watch all of the other teams compete and wait for awards.

A cheer competition is stressful but where the best memories are made with your team. The feeling after hitting a routine that is something to be proud of and takes so much work and time is something I wish all people could experience.

Cheer has taught me so many things and gave me life long memories and friendships I will never forget.