The junior high cheerleading squad competed at the Clovis Pep Classic Cheer Competition at Clovis High, winning the title Grand Champions of the Non-CUSD Schools, Jan. 27. The group also placed second in the Novice Intermediate Schools Division.

The first Pep Classic was hosted in 1976 at Clovis High, at the time the only high school in Clovis, CA. The founder Nancy Mealer still runs the event after 42 years. The competition allows cheerleaders to showcase their skills in a public setting and win titles for their school.

Junior high cheerleader Ashley Logan, ‘22, has participated in the activity since she was little and now stands confident in her skills.

“Our routine well really well because we never actually fully hit any of out stunts beforehand, but at the competition we hit them all,” Logan said. “We were really surprised when we won and I felt great. I like the bond that all of us had because we had to trust each other on our stunts and we all had to do our part.”

As a newbie to the cheerleading world, Madilyn Foster, ‘23, joined because of her family’s background in the sport. She appreciates the competition experience and felt confident going into it.

“I felt great winning the award,” Foster said. “(During our routine) we hit a pyramid which we’ve never done before. I love the atmosphere and how even if someone falls we are all there for each other.”

Both are planning on continuing with cheerleading through high school.

Coach Hope Villines trained the junior high cheerleaders along with Brooklyn Barth. Villines loves how they worked together and represented their motto, “Be Strong and Courageous”.

“I am so proud of this cheer team! They left it all out on the mat and in doing so let their lights shine for Jesus. This team has put in so many hours of hard work and their dedication to this sport has been outstanding. This was proven with how their stunts and stumbling all hit the way they should.”

The junior high and high school cheer teams will both compete at the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders West Coast Nationals at Azusa Pacific, Feb. 17. Elementary, junior high and high school cheer will all perform at the Clovis West Showcase, Feb. 10. This is the first time in eight years that FCS will have an elementary cheer team compete.

 

Congratulations to the junior high cheer team as they earned the title Grand Champions of the Non-CUSD Schools at the Clovis Pep Classic at Clovis High School, Jan. 27. The girls also placed second in the Novice Intermediate Schools division. Congrats again to coach Hope Villines and all the girls! #thefeather @fresnochristianschools #FCcheer

A post shared by The Feather (@thefeatheronline) on Jan 27, 2018 at 6:10pm PST

For more articles about cheer, read Behind the Bow: Journalists join cheer practice, share experience. For more articles read BREAKING: Parent informational counseling meeting, Jan. 30.

Slideshow below includes images from JH cheerleading competition.

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Kamryn Schultz can be reached via email and Twitter.