GENTRY -- Athleticism abounded at Pioneer Gym in Gentry as the Decatur Bulldog cheer team, along with 12 high school teams from around Northwest Arkansas, competed in the 2019 Gentry Cheer Classic.
Because of a scheduling conflict with the Decatur Christmas parade on Dec. 6, the Decatur Bulldog basketball game in Decatur with the West Fork Tigers had to be rescheduled to Dec. 5 in West Fork, putting the Decatur Cheer team in a bind with some of the team's members also involved with the Lady Bulldog basketball program.
Fortunately for Ladale Clayton, Decatur Cheer coach, she was able to change the cheer team's performance time, thanks to a few quick schedule changes by Gentry coach and event organizer Joni Wilson.
The team opened the Gentry event with a great routine in the 2A game day division, ending up with a first-place finish.
But the Decatur Cheer team had just one day to work out any bugs in its performance before returning to West Fork for the Tiger Classic Cheer Competition Dec. 7.
This event pitted the Decatur team against Mayflower in the 2A-3A game day division in one of the team's toughest competitions this season. Clayton recounts the events that led the Decatur Cheer team to a first-place finish in its division.
"They placed first and beat the team they were up against," Clayton said. "The other team was Mayflower, and they are a 3A team. Our team did an amazing job. They competed in game day format like it would be set up at state. After hitting the mat three different times, they made it to the finals round and received first and Mayflower second."
But it was not smooth sailing for Decatur as conflicts plagued the team for the second time this week. But out of adversity came triumph for the small Decatur team.
"I was worried because I had two (members) that couldn't go, and so we were left with only six kids to compete," Clayton recalled. "They got first! So proud. Several were in tears because they beat another team. The Arkansas Cheerleading Coaches Association put this competition on and the people that are over the ACCA are the coaches for that Mayflower team. These coaches came over and congratulated us and told us that we were awesome!"
The Decatur Bulldog Cheer team will spend the next few weeks working on new moves for the 2A State Cheer competition at the Hot Springs Convention Center on Dec. 21.
Sports on 12/11/2019