Draft wins cheer title

STUARTS DRAFT – The Stuarts Draft competition cheerleading squad successfully defended its Southern Valley District championship Saturday with a superior showing at the district meet.

After all the cheering, dancing, tumbling and acrobatic stunts were performed, the Cougars emerged with the title.

Stuarts Draft, Wilson and Waynesboro made it through the preliminary round and into the finals.

“The teams in our district are really good,” said second-year Draft coach Bethany Blouse. “The key to our success is that we work as a family.”

The Cougars were able to correct some minor difficulties in their opening round and nailed their routine in the championship round. “We were able to come back and fix some problems between rounds,” said senior Jessica Whitesell. “We dropped some stunts in the first round.”

The Cougars, along with Wilson and Waynesboro, will compete in the Region III competition in two weeks at Spotswood High School.

“We push each other really hard,” said Cougar junior Brittany McThenia.

Wilson Memorial finished second, despite having just a dozen girls on the squad.

“It’s harder not having as many out there,” said Wilson senior Paige Allison. “We can’t be as loud as the other teams.”

Although Allison is in her final high school year, she is participating in competition cheering for the first time.

The Hornets won the Shenandoah District championship in 2008 and are competing at the Group AA level for the first time.

“Today was amazing,” Wilson sophomore Kayla Via said.” We proved a lot to people who doubted we could do this.”

First-year coach Vickie Lilley, who took over the team midway through the season, was thrilled with the result.

“The best thing is the joy I can see that they bring,” Lilley said. “They’re very determined and know what they’re doing.”

Lilley’s son Nathan, who cheered at Fort Defiance and at George Mason University, assisted his mom this season.

“There’s a good bond on this team.”

In spite of losing one of its cheerleaders earlier in the week, Waynesboro turned in a strong third-place effort.

“We had to rearrange our routine on Tuesday,” said Waynesboro coach Cyndi Farrar. “We were expecting to place and I’m happy for our 10 seniors.”