On Nov. 13, 2024, Newport High School hosted the annual PECO cheer competition. After each team fulfilled the requirements: a dance, pyramid, jump sequence, and cheer, Susquenita High School earned the PECO title.
At 6:00, teams from the four country schools arrived for warm-ups at the middle school gym. Each team received 10 minutes on the mat before leaving for the main competition gym. By 7:00, Newport started the competition.
Newport’s routine, coached by Ayla Poticher, featured a “peppy” dance and a dual pyramid. “The dance. It’s powerful and full of energy and the perfect ending to a routine that took a lot of time and dedication to create,” says Poticher. However, the pyramid wobbled resulting in a points deduction.
Susquenita followed. They had the largest team in the competition, with a three-group pyramid. “Their pyramid looked really good,” said junior Jasmin Corkle.
West Perry went third with a small team just like Newport. “I loved the uniqueness of their cheer, they were very cheerful,” claimed junior Eva Ogden.
Greenwood, which contained a small number of cheerleaders like Newport and Susquenita, concluded the competition with their energy-filled routine.
After all of the teams competed, the judges took some time to put the total scores together. During that time, all of the cheerleaders and some of their friends and family came down to the mats and danced. Then, the audience sat back down, and the teams sat on the mat in a group until the DJ announced the winner – Susquenita.
