Rebuilding is not a word Winder-Barrow High School competition cheerleading coach Jerrie Hulsey uses too often but it may be the case in 2009-2010.
WBHS graduated 10 seniors from last year’s squad so Hulsey, who has guided the program since its inception, has what she called a “very young and inexperinced team” for the upcoming campaign, which begins Nov. 19.
“I have five boys on the team and none of them have ever cheered before,” the WBHS coach said. “We have been working diligently all summer and since school started and have made great strides. We performed at the school pep rally a week ago and did an amazing job. The athletes hit the routine. They are a very coachable team.”
The Winder-Barrow coaches choreographed a very difficult routine in order to be a contender for the state championship.
The team is able to do most of the skills at present, Hulsey said.
“We still have some parts that need improvement including double downs,” the coach said. “Our standing tumbling is awesome but we are working to improve our running tumbling. With a relatively inexperienced team you struggle early with the precision of the routine.”
The team will be competing against five other coed squads this Saturday. In coed the teams are all placed together.
“There are not enough coed in each division so that is how it has to be done,” Hulsey said. “Of the five teams there are three past state champions with Winder, Peachtree Ridge and Duluth. We are looking forward to competing on Saturday. We want to see how the team performs under pressure.”
Team members include Misty Bellew, Laura Beth Brown, Macy Chambers, Kate Dixon, Shant Finch, Kristia Folger, Lauren Geiger, Ashley Healan, Crystal Hodge, Chassidy McCracken, Addie Nguyen, Ashley Rogers, Taylor Chapman, Anthony Cooper, John Reese Fortson, Sean Masters, John Siggers, Austin Sorrells and Chandler Thompson. Ashley Keen is the team manager.
