Celebrate what, you ask?

Cheerleading.

The squads gathered at Indian Valley High Saturday morning for the 6th annual Inter-Valley

Conference Cheerleading Championships.

Competitions were held in both Middle School and High School divisions for squads throughout

the conference.

• Indian Valley won the championship in the South Division, with Tusky Valley taking second.

• In the North Division, Newcomerstown took the team title, with Strasburg finishing second.

• In the Middle School Division, Indian Valley finished first and Tusky Valley second.

The competing teams did a 2 1⁄2-minute routine that combined cheers while using props and

gymnastic elements and a dance.

This is nothing that was slapped together at the last minute.

The teams practice and compete nearly year round, according to veteran Claymont coach

Sharon Grove.

The teams are judged on many elements.

“They watch tumbling, technique, tightness of the motions, facial expressions … it’s a complete

circle of different things,” Grove said. “On jumps, your toes have to be pointed just right … it’s

everything.”

“We practice three or four nights a week,” explained Claymont senior Karissa Cincinat, who said

she’s been involved in cheerleading since kindergarten.

“These competitions are all fun,” added teammate Ava Fawcett. “Every one is different.”

While there was no direct head-to-head action – each team got its own time on the mat –

cheerleaders played to the crowds and, while the Middle School competitors were waiting for

the judging, the teams danced together while the speakers blared “Cotton-Eye Joe.”

“We like to cheer each other on when we can,” said Lauren Rectanus, another Claymont senior.

The routines include props, such as megaphones, signs or flash cards, flags and the traditional

pom-poms.

“The more props we have, the better,” Fawcett said.

Teammate Cecilia Garcia, another Claymont senior pointed out that the routines are exciting to

perform.

TOP GUN



Malvern senior Tyson Clear won the 165-pound title at the Top Gun Wrestling Tournament,

hosted by Alliance.

Claymont had four placers at the event. Sophomore Drevonn Searcy was third at 138 pounds

and freshman Kam Stout was fourth at 150. Sophomore Daniel McGarr was fifth at 120 and

sophomore Nile Abbuhl finished sixth at 126.

Newcomerstown had two place-winners at the two-day, 49-team tournament.

Sophomore Martin Hernandez was seventh at 285 and senior Cage Miller finished eighth at

215.

Tusky Valley senior Kylar Postlewait finished sixth at 157 pounds and Carrollton sophomore was

sixth at 113.

Brecksville won the team title with 359 points, while Harrison finished second with 192.

Claymont finished fifth with 127 points.