JC 2nd in state

INDIANAPOLIS — The venue just doesn’t seem to matter.
Whether they’re in their home gym or on an unfamiliar stage, at the Indiana State Fair grandstand or in a convention center in downtown Indianapolis the cheerleaders from Jay County always prove to be among the state’s best.
The Patriot varsity squad proved it again on Saturday, turning in a runner-up finish in the large varsity division of the Indiana State Fair cheerleading competition at the Indiana Convention Center.
West Jay Middle School matched its best effort in school history with third-place finish in the junior varsity division, and the JCHS junior varsity squad added a fourth-place effort.
“It’s very exciting,” said JCHS coach Mindy Weaver, whose team won the Indiana State Fair championship last season and has been in the top three in each of the last four years. “It’s a lot of pressure and stress, but it’s very exciting.
“Varsity I think we put the best routine out there that we could.”
This year’s competition was moved to the convention center downtown after all grandstand events at the fair were canceled following an Aug. 13 stage collapse that has resulted in seven deaths. The Patriots also finished in second place 10 years ago when the competition was delayed a week because of inclement weather and moved to the Pepsi Coliseum at the state fairgrounds.
Jay County scored 231.5 points in the large varsity competition this year as it finished as the runner-up behind Brownsburg (237). Bishop Dwenger was one point behind the Patriots in third place.
West Jay, which competed for the first time at the state fair in 2003, had finished eighth or lower each of the past three seasons. But the Eagles posted 204.5 points to surge all the way to third place this year behind Mount Vernon (215.5) and Tri-North (214.5).
The effort matches the best in school history, as WJMS was also third in 2004 and ’06.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” said West Jay coach Cheree McCallister. “I’m very proud of them. They worked extremely hard, extremely long hours for a two-minute routine. …
“They basically aced everything. Their timing was good. They were spirited. Overall it was the best performance they’ve had … all year.”
Jay County’s junior varsity squad scored 205 points for its fourth-place finish behind Pendleton Heights (211.5), Fishers (209.5) and Mount Vernon (207.5). In addition to its junior high title, Mount Vernon also scored 239 points to win the small varsity division in front of North Knox (221.5) and Oak Hill (214.5).
In the large varsity competition, the Patriots scored at least a 7.5 out of 10 from every judge in every category.
Their effort included two perfect 10s from one judge in the “formations/spacing” and “fundamentals/motion technique” categories. And their best scores across the board came in jumps, where they earned 26.5 out of a possible 30 points.
“These girls just kept working  … and really got the details down,” said Weaver. “It’s every little aspect, every little motion, every little movement. It was probably the best facial expressions and enthusiasm that I’ve had in a while.”
Jay County’s junior varsity squad’s best scores also came in jumps as they picked up 25 out of a possible 30 points. It earned at least seven points from every judge in every category.
“One thing when we come to state fair, my first goal is for the girls to leave the mat happy,” said Weaver while complimenting her groups. “Both squads are very supportive of one another. They have good attitudes. It makes it fun for me to come to practice. We worked hard, but we also had a good time too.”
East Jay Middle School was not part of the junior high competition, but performed its routine as an exhibition.
“They represented Jay County really well,” said coach Sarah Ullom. “They came in with confidence. … They were in good spirits.
“They left it on the mat. Everything that could have potential hit, I think hit.”[[In-content Ad]]