Cheer determination

INDIANAPOLIS and PENDLETON — The Patriots, Eagles and Chiefs didn’t get the opportunity to perform at the Indiana State Fair grandstand.
But thanks to quick thinking and cheerleading camaraderie, they were able to show off the routines they’d worked on all summer.
The Jay County High School, West Jay Middle School and East Jay Middle School squads performed at an impromptu showcase Saturday afternoon at Pendleton Heights High School after the Indiana State Fair competition was canceled because of rain.
Coach Brenda Jamerson decided following the cancellation to put on a performance at PHHS in part because her middle school Arabians had not been on the mat in front of fans this summer. And then she decided to invite the other squads driving northeast from the state capital along Interstate 69 to join in. Jay County and Union City accepted.
“The girls work all summer for state fair. It’s a huge commitment of time,” said Jamerson. “I just felt they had earned the right to show their hard work off.”
The move to Pendleton Heights came after a morning and early afternoon that consisted mostly of waiting.
The scheduled 10 a.m. start of the Indiana State Fair cheerleading competition was delayed as volunteers attempted to dry the grandstand stage and then get mats in place. By the time it got going, one squad — Southmont Middle School — was able to perform its routine before the grandstand had to be cleared because of lightning.
Cheerleaders huddled in tents or on buses, waiting for more than an hour for the rain to subside. It eventually did and volunteers again went about preparing the mat, removing a plastic tarp and using a wet/dry vacuum to remove water that had seeped through. But just as everything seemed ready for the competition to re-start, rain began to fall again.
Then, about 1:25 p.m., the competition was called off.
The last time storms halted the state fair competition — 2001 — it was bumped back a weekend and the Patriots brought home a second-place trophy. This time, it would not be rescheduled.
“When I watched them take the tarp off and I watched the mat saturate and they got it cleaned up and I watched it rain again, I emotionally was hurt because these girls have worked so hard,” said JCHS coach Abby Champ. “My heart just sank for them.”
But she had a message for her cheerleaders when they gathered on the bus after the decision had been made to go to Pendleton.
She wanted them to show their fans, and those from Pendleton and Union City, what they had been striving for all summer, and she wanted them to walk off the mat happy.
“I think that relaxed them and they were like, ‘You know what, let’s go have fun. Let’s do what we know we can do. It’s not ideal, but we’re going to make the best of a rotten situation,’” said Champ. “And I think that’s exactly what they did.”
So did both middle school squads.
East Jay opened the showcase, improving on its effort from a night earlier at the state fair preview show at JCHS. West Jay hit a strong series of jumps to start its routine with its only significant miscue coming when its middle mount didn’t come together smoothly.
“That was the best routine we’ve ever seen,” said EJMS coach Olivia Cash. “(Assistant coach Shelby Pryor) and I both agreed, that was the best routine all summer. They definitely peaked at the right time.
“I’m proud of them. Even though they didn’t get to do it at the state fair, they still did a great job today.”
“I think it was wonderful,” said WJMS coach Brea Burcham. “Our middle mount did not hit, but you know what, those girls nailed everything else in that entire routine and I couldn’t be prouder.
“I’m really glad that we decided to come here and still perform our routine ... It made the girls feel good that they were able to still perform.”
Jay County’s squad opened by hitting its standing back tucks followed by back handspring back tucks. Its long tumbling was the best its been all summer long, with Courtney Miles and Breea Liette hitting their passes at each end with full twists.
And they closed with five girls in the air as Dara Grove, Breea Liette, McKenna Daniels, Cheyenne Liette and Chelsey Blalock flipped, spun and twisted into a variety of poses and positions with their teammates supporting them below.
“I could not be more proud of that routine,” said Champ. “That was by far the best routine we’ve had. Even the minor mistakes we had were minor at that. …
“Timing on tumbling was just phenomenal. It was the cleanest it’s ever been. It was super loud, super energetic. And the girls did it with confidence like I’ve never seen.
“I’m elated.”
Performing in a high school gym in front of a couple hundred fans, most of whom were sitting on the floor, wasn’t what any of the cheerleaders had hoped for or expected. But they made the most of it.
“For this to happen at Pendleton Heights, for Brenda to open this up to us to come in, it’s not the perfect ending, but we got to do our perfect routine,” said Champ. “We got to have our perfect showcase. We got a chance to show some of the best teams in the state what we are capable of, and I think that helps.”