Panthers bond at state

Franklin places 3rd out of 9 in division

  • Photo submitted Franklin’s cheerleading team took third at the NCHSAA competition. Front row, from left: Madison Phillips, Kaitlyn Henry, Christa Perry, Katy Nettles, Kassidy Mixer, Kaylan Foutty, Lexi Hoyt. Back row, from left: Rex Baker, Alivia Gibbs, Mackenzie Hughes, Sierra Kreis, Michelle Perez, Brielle Perry, Belle Reale, Abbie Passmore, Madison Lowe, Lylian Foutty, Zoe Berkstresser, coach Lynn Baker.
    Photo submitted Franklin’s cheerleading team took third at the NCHSAA competition. Front row, from left: Madison Phillips, Kaitlyn Henry, Christa Perry, Katy Nettles, Kassidy Mixer, Kaylan Foutty, Lexi Hoyt. Back row, from left: Rex Baker, Alivia Gibbs, Mackenzie Hughes, Sierra Kreis, Michelle Perez, Brielle Perry, Belle Reale, Abbie Passmore, Madison Lowe, Lylian Foutty, Zoe Berkstresser, coach Lynn Baker.

    Andy Scheidler

    sports@thefranklinpress.com

    Making memories and having fun competing were highlights from the NCHSAA Cheerleading Invitational. 

    “I feel like the team really went out on the mat and gave everything we had,” Franklin junior Madison Phillips said. “We all pushed ourselves to be our very best, and we reaped the reward from that.”

    Franklin’s cheerleading team finished third at the competition. It was the squad’s second time competing this season, coming after a third-place finish at the Mountain Regional, a pre-state tournament, in October. 

    “Our team did an outstanding job at the NCHSAA competition,” coach Lynn Baker said. “They far exceeded many of the goals that we had set heading into this competition.”

    The Panthers raised the difficulty of their 2 minute, 30 second-routine. In turn, they raised their overall score as well. 

    After scoring a 67 at the pre-state tournament, they earned a 71.5 at state. That improvement was huge, Baker said, especially since it included a two-point deduction. 

    Currituck won the large varsity non-tumble division with a score of 77.1. South Rowan placed second with a 75. 

    FHS took third out of nine teams in the division, all of which had between 17-20 cheerleaders. 

    The Panthers are extremely young. Their roster consists of 11 freshmen, three sophomore, two juniors and one senior. 

    Competing for the first time at state brought nerves for some of the girls. 

    “I was really nervous but excited to bond with everyone,” freshman Madison Lowe said. 

    Freshman Michelle Perez was pleased with how the Panthers performed. 

    “Overall, I felt that the competition went really well,” Perez said. “It was my first time competing at state and I felt super excited. It was awesome placing third.”

    The competition took place in Raleigh. Perez said the Panthers had a great time in the state capital while bonding and getting closer to each other. 

    “My favorite part about the weekend was getting to be able to make more memories with the team,” she said. 

    Phillips agreed, saying her favorite part of the weekend was making memories with the team and “growing closer as a family.”

    Thanks to their high finish, the Panthers earned a bid to compete in the CANAM Nationals. It will be held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in March. 

    “I was over the moon with their performance as it was the best they have ever done since we added difficulty to the routine,” Baker said. “They were loud, proud and carried themselves with grace and good sportsmanship all weekend long. We scored very well, placed in the top three of a very tough division, and I feel like the team represented Franklin and WNC well at this event.”

    The Panthers will next compete Feb. 1 at another state competition, this one hosted by the North Carolina Cheerleading Coaches Association. 

    After that, they hope to be able to secure enough sponsors and financial support to attend the national competition in March.