Jacqueline Hart, Gilpin County.   For 15 years, Gilpin County High School has not entered a state level spirit competition. On November 15, 2018, the 2018 GHS cheer team ended their long absence from the competitive spotlight. This season’s 12-person cheer team included six members who, in addition to supporting both boys’ and girls’ GHS sports teams from August through March, volunteered to represent Gilpin in state level spirit meets.

The regular practice schedule for cheer requires two days of practice with the team per week. The competition team practices an additional two days a week, which must be scheduled around games, Homecoming and Veteran’s Day events, where they perform. A competition routine includes; a chant, a cheer and a dance. All these memorized and synonymously executed dances consist of jumps, tumbling, stunts and pyramids.

Throughout their sequence they must maintain high energy, enthusiasm and remain in unison with their teammates while maintaining precise moves. The cheerleading sport requires much more endurance and commitment than it often receives credit for.

GHS cheerleaders competed November 15, 2018, at Sheridan High School, in the Frontier League Spirit Championship. Anna Yocom received the cheerleader of the year award and Katie Yocom was voted coach of the year.

On December 7, Gilpin cheer competed for the second time this year, at the Denver Coliseum in the CHSAA State Spirit Competition, with 245 division 2A-5A teams including cheer, poms, co-ed cheer, hip-hop and jazz. Out of 13 other division 2A teams, Gilpin placed seventh, a great accomplishment so soon after returning to competitions after a decade and a half. They worked hard and learned from the experience. GHS immediately embarked on integrating all they learned at state, to take their routines to the next level and compete again next year.

(Originally published in the December 27, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)