Sparkman Wins World Championship; James Clemens And Bob Jones Shine At Cheer National And World Championships
MADISON- The astounding talent of competition cheerleaders within the immediate area was again showcased at the UCA National and World Cheerleading Championships held in Orlando, Fla. at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Leading the way again this year was Sparkman High, which took top honors in the Small Varsity Co-Ed division, thus earning the title of World Champions for the fourth consecutive year.
“This team, along with all others that compete at this level, have been working hard all year for this moment,” said Kaitlin Longino, head coach of Sparkman. “I couldn’t be more proud of these athletes and their drive to continue fighting until the very end.”
The same World Title winning squad came in fourth place in the UCA Nationals and fifth in Game Day competition. The Senators junior varsity squad performed at a very high level in its divisions by taking runner-up in both the Nationals and World highly-competitive competitions.
Squad members for Sparkman included, Seniors- Quinton Billups, Kyndal Miller, Senna Roberts, Josie Shallbetter; Juniors- Vanessa Bailey, Malia Chitwood, Emma Cobb, Aamirah Hayes, Jordan Moore, Payton Wikoff; Sophomores- Amiyah Cooley, Madison Fletcher, Madison Russell, Lizzie Thompson; Freshmen- Tia Barnes, Gabrielle Betts, Kennedi Fortson, Neeli Harwell, Sydney Ratcliff.
Longino was assisted by Ben Park.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be their coach and I’m honored that I was able to continue the legacy of the Sparkman cheerleading winning tradition,” added Longino in her first season as head coach after the retirement of longtime Sparkman coach Lisa Aderholt.
Meanwhile, the James Clemens Jets, the 2021 Game Day state champions, took third place trophies in both the Large Varsity Div. 1 and Non-Building Game Day competitions in the Nationals and a second place trophy for their efforts in the Large Varsity division of the World Championships.
The Lady Jets and their class included, Kenze Achenbach, 11, Ashley Ahrens, 12, Whitney Bailey, 11, Kathryn Bennefield, 10, Hannah Bruce, 9, Ava Cramer, 10, Paris Dryer, 11, Evelyn Edger, 10, Shayla Hawkins, 12, Maddie Hicks, 9, Julia Ingalls, 10, Alexis Ivy, 11, Emma Jones, 9, Amelia Koerlin, 9, Emma Koerlin, 12, Perri McMahan, 11, Ashlyn Newberry, 10, Kiersten Ratcliff, 11, Samantha Rhodes, 11, Gabbie Russell, 11, Katie Russell, 11, Sydney Snodgrass, 10, Josee Steelman, 11, Kaitlin Stone, 9, Malikah Stowe, 10, Haley Swafford, 9, Emily Tieszen, 12, Ella Thomas, 11, Alyssa Tucker, 10, Kaylee Tucker, 10, Alexis Wayne, 12, Parker Wrobel, 9.
Bob Jones, the current Class 7A Alabama state champs, placed eighth among 96 schools in the D-1 Medium Varsity division of the Nationals.
