Newspaper Page Text
Page 2C
August 24, 2022
Reporter
New year, same expectations for MP Cheer
By Dana Morris
dana.h.morris 1010@gmail.com
The Mary Persons compe
tition cheer team is looking
to compete for another state
title in 2022.
The Cheer Dogs won their
first-ever state title in Febru-
rary 2021 (late in the year
due to COVID) and came
in third at the state meet in
November 2021. The Cheer
Dogs hope this is the year
they return to the top of the
heap.
The team consists of five
seniors, six juniors, five
sophomores, and five fresh
men. This balance of grade
levels brings a good mix of
experience that can serve
the team well this year and
in future years. Large gradu
ating classes often mean
a rebuilding year, but the
current balance may help
prevent that from happen
ing in the near future.
Coach Kyle Ward said his
current group has a major
desire to work extremely
hard throughout the season
and only improve as they
prepare for die state compe
tition in November. Only
two seniors graduated, and
they were replaced with
several talented freshmen.
The current five seniors
have all committed to
providing positive leader
ship that they will continue
through the season. It is
their positive and supportive
leadership that solidifies the
group and makes the team
more unified and want to
work together to reach their
full potential.
Although it is very early in
the season, Coach Ward has
high hopes for maxing out
their routine. This means
that they plan to perform
the most advanced skills
possible in each category of
the score sheet. They hope
to achieve their highest score
yet for the first competition
of the year.
If the team is able to max
out the routine, then that
puts them in a good position
to be competitive at the state
level. Then the main focus
would be to execute those
advanced skills flawlessly to
allow the team to score well
when compared to other
high-performing teams.
The seniors include Taylor
Grace Norsworthy who is
an exceptional leader and is
comfortable offering words
of encouragement to the
team. She also excels as a
back spot and that helps
ensure that her stunt group
consistently hits and per
forms well.
Another senior is Mary
Michael Tane she is a
phenomenal base who is
very strong. Her athleticism
makes her stunt perfor
mance dependable. Mary
Michael is a quiet leader
who sets a good example
for her teammates and is
reliable.
Claire Campbell is a senior
who is in her second year
as an advanced flyer. Her
strong ability in the air and
her dependability will help
the team to be very competi
tive this season.
Riley Hill is another senior
elite flyer who is very skilled.
She has great body positions
and has worked during the
off-season to help add even
more talent to the tumbling
portion of the routine.
Lastly, Maddie Emami is
a senior who is an excel
lent base and a positive and
uplifting teammate. Mad-
die’s encouragement helps to
carry the team if they ever
get discouraged.
There were some schools
that were reclassified into
other divisions including
a major competitor, Pierce
County, which moved down
to 2 A. Last year’s 3 A state
champion, Dawson County,
remained in classification
3A. Savannah Christian is a
school that moved up from
1A to 3A and they will be
a team to watch because of
their strong tumbling and
stunting abilities.
Other teams in Mary
Persons region 2-AAA
classification include Peach
County, Jackson, Upson Lee,
and Pike County
A couple of newer items in
the area of GHSA cheer
leading include having the
ability to see the scores of
all cheer teams throughout
The Mary Persons competition cheer team.
The Mary Persons competition spirit team, which cheers at MP games and competes in the
winter.
the state each competition
week instead of just rank
ing. This information helps
the coaches to know which
areas to improve each week.
Also, classification sectionals
will be held in one location
with one set of judges for all
teams for consistency In
the past, teams in the same
classification competed at
two different locations with
different judges. The top 16
teams in each classification
at sectionals will advance to
the state competition.
Other team members
include Addie Mae Cobb,
Cydney Brown, Emma
Fox, Grade Butler, Hannah
Yanez, Haylee Wooley, Ken-
ley Morris, Khalana Castlin,
Kinzee Wheeler, Leah Trice,
Lexi Newberry, Lorelai Vin-
ing, Maela McKallip, Maycie
Smith, Olivia Elder, and
Sidney McCowell.
Scheduled competitions
for this season include Sept.
17 at West Laurens High
School, Oct. 1 Starrs Mill
High School, Oct. 8 Ola
High School, Oct. 22 North-
gate High School, Oct. 29
Union Grove High School,
Nov. 5 region competition
at Morgan County, and Nov.
12 state competition at the
Macon Centreplex.
DOGS
Continued from 1C
failed, and led just 12-7.
MP had little more than a minute
before half to answer, and did just
that, all through the air. Hickman hit
Watson for 15 yards to get to midfield.
Then with just 22 seconds left in the
half, Hickman found junior receiver Ty
Dumas streaking open for a 46-yard
TD strike. Bankstons PAT gave MP the
14-12 halftime lead.
Northeast got the ball to start the
second half and MP forced a 3 and
out. The Bulldogs in turn had driven
to midfield when the GHSA-required
lightning meter went off again. Radar
showed another large storm was ap
proaching from the south. Fans scram
bled to their cars and the teams to the
locker rooms, where they remained
another two hours until after midnight
when the game was postponed.
When the game is resumed, MP will
face a 3rd and 6 at its own 42 yard line
with 9:26 left in the third. When that
happens is anybody’s guess. Nelson
said MP s non-region schedule is very
tough so there’s not a week he wants
to play two games. But Nelson was
encouraged by his team’s performance
for the 27 minutes played. “If we can
get the same amount better each week
as we did this week,” said Nelson, “well
be on the right track.”
We fnve u $o Much! 1
Daddg* Mama, Subs, and Sissy
'P&oto& COCOlte&ty