No. 8 Nationally-Ranked:
SP cheerleaders perform nearly flawless routine at nationals

By Angie Ledbetter

The 2011 South Panola competitive cheerleading squad traveled to Walt Disney World to compete in the 2012 UCA National Cheerleading competition Saturday and Sunday at Walt Disney World and placed No. 8 in the nation.

The South Panola squad made school history when they advanced straight to the finals, skipping semi finals. The top two teams in each semi finalist group advanced to the finals. The other three teams were Benton High School, Cardinal Gibbons High School and Father Judge High School.

Seventy-nine squads competed in the large Division II category. There were three rounds of prelimaries and it was narrowed down to two groups of semi finals.

Coach Tammy Wilkinson barely had a voice to talk after Saturday’s performance.

“I don’t really know how to describe the feeling. It was completely emotional. It was the first time in history that any squad from South Panola has gone straight to finals. I didn’t ever expect it.

“The difference this year was the difficulty level of the routine, the heart this squad had and they wanted it bad,” Wilkinson said. “The girls knew when they came off that stage they had done a great job.”

Wilkinson said that two hours after they performed when she walked around everyone was saying South Panola was unbelievable.

“I didn’t even know who the people were,” she said.

Senior Blair Wilkinson was very excited after that morning’s performance.

“The feeling is amazing to know we’re going straight to finals. I’m just thankful I got to be a part of it my senior year that made school history. We all knew we had done well and it was a good chance but it’s always a possibility that we’re not going straight through.

“We had prepared ourselves not to be upset with ourselves if we didn’t but we all had that gut feeling we were,” Blair Wilkinson continued. “Benton High School was called out first and then he called out us. He only got South out of his mouth.

We all just sat there looking around at each other and then went completely crazy. We all started crying because we were all so excited.”

The squad has two seniors Wilkinson and Kelsey Cook.

“The two seniors are sad because it’s over for them but smiling because of their experiences,” Tammy Wilkinson said.

On Sunday South Panola entered finals in second place.

Wilkinson said the girls were feeling great and confident before they went on stage.

“Afterwards they knew they had left their hearts and souls on that mat. Even after the results were announced they still felt the same way. They’re beyond special and made history.”

Cook felt great about their performance.

“I know all of the girls did their best,” Cook said. “As a seasoned cheerleader I know it’s difficult for the younger girls to understand the judging of the competition when we worked so hard and diligent to make it all perfect.

“We as a team had accomplished something that had never been done by an all girl squad by doing the one arm stunts,” Cook continued. “I feel that had the judges completely understood that portion of the routine we could’ve possibly placed higher. With that being said, placing eight in the nation was a great accomplishment.”

Out of the four that made it straight to finals Father Judge High School won first place, Cardinal Gibbons High School No. 4, Benton High School No. 6 and South Panola No. 8.

Shock waves went out as word got out about the squad coming in No. 8.

“They performed the hardest routine there and nailed it. It was even better than Saturday,” Wilkinson. “They left it all on the floor and have no regrets.”

Wilkinson told the squad after the finals were over all three coaches were very proud of them.

“Our sport is subjective and it is what it is. They’ve accepted it.”

Coach Sara Helen Ware said everyone was disappointed.

“The girls were disappointed and of course the coaches also,” Ware said. “Unfortunately this is one of those times that life is just not fair. It’s hard to know they did as well on the second day as the they did on the first and the scores be that different. We definitely opened some eyes and turned some heads. The girls felt like it was taken from them and honestly I do too.”

The top four teams dropped and the No. 6 team did also. The South Panola squad of 20 scored an 81.8 on Saturday and 76 on Sunday.

They had six stunt groups and did six one arm stunts. Two stunts had never been performed by an all-girl squad. They also scored the highest of any squad on their pyramids.

From an UCS official twitter account about South Panola’s performance Sunday.

“Six walk in single base stretches, nice flags, single base one arm libs, good sync in jumps and good moving pyramid.”