Rugby’s cheer team left the Class B NDCCA winter competition knowing it gave a superb performance, and that’s all coach Kari St. Michel could of asked of them.

“I told them afterward they should not be disappointed at all for how they performed,’ St. Michel said. “They hit their stunts on time, it was a solid routine.”

For its effort Rugby finished third behind first place Bottineau and runner-up Minot Ryan. T-G-U was fourth.

For a team with several state cheer titles to its credit, third place is a bit disappointing, but sometimes that’s the way it goes, St. Michel said.

“It’s up to the judges and what they like,’ she said. “All we can do is our best, and I thought we looked great.”

Team members included: Ashley Mattern, Katelyn Berube, Laura Hoffert, Tiffany Fox-Medalen, Emerald Collins, Paige Haman, Shelby Hageness, Jessica Jaeger, Rachel Allickson, Lindsey Hamilton, Carly Wise, Lexi Everson, and Taylor Everson.

Rugby did have two teams compete in the stunting competition. The stunt team of Berube, Hoffert, Mattern, Jaeger and Taylor Everson finished first. The team of Collins, Haman, Hamilton, Allickson and Fox-Medalen was third. A few girls also competed in the jump off, but did not place.

T-G-U has strong debut

Towner-Granville-Upham finished an impressive fourth in its first year in the competition. The cheer team included: Beth Hanretty, Karie Brown, Courtney Hanson, Chelsea Drader, all of Towner; and Kaitlyn Bacon, of Granville.

“They were nervous, but actually they performed during a halftime at one of the games (at the recent) Class B state basketball tournament, and that served as a good practice,’ said Ashley Seykora, cheer advisor. “Somebody said there was around five or six thousand in attendance, so that was much more intimidating than performing at the state competition.”

This is Seykora’s first year working with the T-G-U cheer squad, but has been an advisor in other schools for six more.

She said the girls have worked hard, and the competition aspect of cheering has proved to be a good motivator for the squad. “We’re kind of in the middle of some good cheer programs with Rugby, Bottineau and Minot High,’ she said. “The girls feel they are can work as hard as be just as good.”

In addition to the team competition, two cheerleaders – Beth Harnetty and Kaitlyn Bacon also competed in the jump off.