SPRINGDALE -- One key element in the success of any junior and senior high school and college sports programs is often the one most overlooked by fans and teams across the country. The cheer team oftentimes gets the fans off their feet and back into the contests at which they appear.
Something that is also overlooked about the cheer team is the fact that it is considered a sport itself with ties to gymnastics. The Decatur High School cheer team traveled to Springdale Saturday to participate in the Wildcat Cheer Invitational cheer competition at Har-Ber High School.
Schools from Bentonville, Springdale, Fayetteville, Berryville, Lavaca, Shiloh, Lincoln and host Har-Ber all participated in the four-hour-long event.
Decatur, along with the team from Greenland High School, participated in the 1-3A game day division. For Ladale Clayton, the Har-Ber event marked the first of several cheer competitions leading to the state competition Dec. 21 in Hot Springs.
The game-day squad consists of co-captains Kaylee Morales and Tabby Tilley, members Emmy Lee, Ithzel Martinez, Lauro Molina, Mayra Flores, and new members Jose Rubi, Korbin Grey, Anna Paula Lopez and Sophia Di'Giovine.
By morning's end, the Decatur Cheer team took second place in its division, with the Greenland team taking first.
Sports on 11/06/2019