GENTRY -- Junior- and senior-high cheer teams from across northwest Arkansas gathered at Pioneer Gym in Gentry Dec. 4 to participate in the annual Gentry Cheer Classic.
Junior-high teams from Washington and Lincoln, Bentonville, Shiloh Christian and Lakeside, as well as their senior-high counterparts from Shiloh Christian, Ozark, Decatur, Gravette, Siloam Springs, Bentonville, Springdale, Farmington and Gentry, all participated in the evening event. Stunt teams from Gentry, Gravette and Siloam Springs participated in the stunt division.
The stars of the competition were the Elite Cheer Team members, girls and boys, ages 6 and up, who put on four exhibition routines that at times brought spectators to their feet.
In the individual jump-off, Desi Meek, Emme Lee and Abby Tilley from Decatur, Danielle Spencer and Whitly Cochran from Gentry, and one competitor each from Springdale and Farmington all participated in this division.
During her routine, Desi Meek performed a maneuver called a hyperextension which was totally unexpected, according to Ladale Clayton, Decatur cheer coach.
"Desi has been working on her hyperextension," said Clayton. "We honestly thought it would be next season before she hit it. But, to our surprise, she hit it Monday night at the Gentry competition."
Meeks' performance earned her second place and a silver medal in the contest.
Decatur High School took first place in the 1A game day division, its first win in several years and one that Clayton was very proud of.
"I just want to say Decatur hasn't been in competitions since the early 2000s. These girls have come a long way," Clayton said. "I can't express how proud they make me on a daily basis. They are an awesome group that is extremely close."
Local results of the contest were: Gravette Senior High Coed -- first, Gentry Senior High All Girls -- first.
In the senior high all girls' stunt group division, Gentry's Fowler Senior High Stunt Group -- first, Gentry's Anderson Senior High Stunt Group -- second, Gravette Senior High Stunt Group -- third.
NOTE: Gentry cheer team also competed and took first place in the combined 4A-5A division at the Bentonville High School Cheer Competition in Bentonville on Dec. 9.
Sports on 12/13/2017