Jay places third, EJMS fourth

INDIANAPOLIS — Jay County’s cheerleading squads have always held the same goal for the state fair competition: to walk off the mat knowing they have done their best.
All three squads held true to that tradition Saturday.
West Jay Middle School led the way, winning its first state fair title in the junior high division (see related story), while Jay County High School finished third in the large varsity division and East Jay Middle School placed fourth.
JCHS, which had finished in the top two each of the last four seasons, trailed champion Pendleton Heights and runner-up Tri-West.
“That was the best routine we could have put on the mat,” said first-year Patriot coach Abby Champ. “We told them going in, we knew this division was going to be a lot tougher this year. … We know coming in, a hit routine could still get third place.”
Pendleton Heights had won back-to-back championships in the small varsity division before moving to large varsity this year. The Arabians also finished third in the small varsity division in February at the Universal Cheer Association National High School Cheerleading Championships.
East Jay, which lost Kenna Kahlig to a broken arm earlier in the week, trailed the champion Eagles, Greencastle and defending champion Mount Vernon in the junior high division.
“They did good,” said EJMS coach Sarah Ullom. “I was really proud of them, especially due to Kenna’s injury. They really pulled it together.”
Jay County scored 7.5 or higher (out of 10) in every category and was especially impressive in crowd appeal and voices, in which it earned a perfect 10 from one judge. It scored 9.0 or higher on every scorecard in that category as well as motion technique/execution.
Champ said she was especially proud during the finals of her squad’s confident attitude, something she thought was lacking earlier in the day.
“They stepped on the mat like winners,” she said. “And they walked off the mat with their head high, like champions.”
East Jay came away with its best score in stunts/pyramids/tosses. That effort impressed Ullom, given that changes had to be made in those areas following Kahlig’s injury.
“They handled it really well and they worked together as a team,” Ullom said.
Saturday marked the first time since 2006 that all of Jay County’s squads finished in the top four at the state fair.
“All in all, Jay County was represented phenomenally,” said Champ.