BHS cheer team wins big at camp

Published 9:02 am Tuesday, August 30, 2016

TACOMA – The Bainbridge Spartan cheer team attended camp at the University of Puget Sound this summer, and both the varsity and junior squads competed with great success.

Bainbridge High earned the first-place award for leadership. The Leadership Award is based on a vote by the other cheer campers, who were asked, “If you had to leave your coach and school, where would you like to go?” The 25 other schools unanimously chose Bainbridge.

“I am extremely proud of our cheerleaders. They are amazing role models,” said Head Coach Tawnya Jackson, who guides the team with Assistant Coach Ariana Felkey.

The Spartans also won the first-place Spirit Award, which is given to the most spirited school over the course of the camp, based on the votes of camp staff and instructors.

The Bainbridge cheer team scored another first place with the Jump Off Award, captured by Spartan Lily Kraus.

Kraus was also among five Spartans who were named All American: Audrey Curran, Matt Zuzelski, Tim Strachen and Carson McCarrell. The award is given to cheerleaders that are seniors and compete at camp, and the winners are invited to perform in the London New Year’s Parade.

Zuzelski was also selected for the Pin it Forward Award. Each staff person chooses one cheerleader who they feel has gone over and beyond as a role model, and cheerleaders who receive a pin then “pin it forward” to another cheerleader. Carson McCarrell, Morgan Wickline, Christina Rawlings and Lily Kraus received pins.

Both the varsity and JV Spartan squads also earned third place for dance routines, and the JV cheerleaders also picked up third place in the fight song category.