Varsity, JV bring home 1st place honors

Special to The Citizen

The varsity and junior varsity McIntosh Football Cheerleading squads both placed first in competitions held during the Universal Cheerleading Association camp at the University of Georgia in Athens.

The competition was held at the end of a week-long camp held on the UGA campus. Camp attendees learned new cheers, sideline routines and dance routines.

The camp also focused on leadership, safety, respect and team building. “We really learned a lot about teamwork, and what it takes to be leaders in the school”, said McIntosh freshman Rhianon Dienhart. “This camp helped us improve so many different ways.”

Senior Danielle D’Auria agreed: “UCA camp was fun and really brought us together as a team.”

Both McIntosh teams were evaluated by the coaching staff and placed in the elite division for their respective age groups. This placed them at the top level of competition within the camp.

The cheerleaders participated in four days of drills and classes, and then competed against teams from across the state of Georgia.

After a grueling morning program where each team competed against their peers and were evaluated, both McIntosh teams were judged to have cheered their way to their respective championships.

Senior Jessica Yelton explained that the girls came to camp for a learning experience that was both “beneficial and necessary” but was also excited about placing first. “It was an amazing experience.”

Yelton was also one of seven girls who were named All Americans at the camp, as well as one of a select few to be honored with an invitation to try out to work at the camp next year.

Three Junior Varsity girls were named to be All Americans — Annie Wright, Courtney Stone, McKenzie Hewson — along with four Varsity cheerleaders — Jamie White, Hannah Byles, Milynn Moore and Jessica Yelton.

Sophomore, junior, and senior All Americans are invited to perform in the London Parade before 1 million spectators lining the parade route. Junior Varsity All Americans are invited to participate at the UCA/UDA Thanksgiving Tour at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Coach Shannon Bednarowski summed up the UCA Camp experience. “I think you’ll see a big difference on Friday nights. Attending the camp was instrumental in the team bonding and learning sideline cheer techniques.”

JV Coach Fonda Brooks-Totten added, “I think that Peachtree City is going to see a whole new cheerleading experience for these young ladies. It’s an exciting time to be a cheerleader at McIntosh.”