The cheerleaders and their coaches at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex GCMS Cheerleaders are: 8th Grade-Alayna Johnston, Allyson Vincent, Avery Sedam, Bailey Sedam, Challee Shartzer, Chesney Willcuts, Haley Sanders, Kristen Shartzer, Samantha Imbresia, and Makayla Wiseman. 7th Grade-Amanda Decker, Ashley McKinney, Celeste Foreman, Elizabeth Goff, Grace Haycraft, and Sarah Conder. 6th Grade-Brianna Jackson, Jasmine Cottrell, Katie Poindexter, and Brooklyn Webb. Coaches are Ginny Paine and Tina Poindexter.

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The cheerleaders during their performance at the National Competition

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The Grayson County Middle School Cheerleaders recently ranked tenth in their division at the Universal Cheerleading Association’s National Competition on February 9.

The GCMS cheerleaders travelled to Orlando, Florida to compete at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports Complex in the Middle School Cheer Squad Large Division.

Coach Tina Poindexter said the event hosted a total of 400 teams, 40 of which were middle school teams and 16 of which were in the Large Division.

The trip marked the first time the GCMS cheerleaders had ever attended the national competition.

Coaches Tina Poindexter and Ginny Paine said the experience was “overwhelming.” However, they said, despite the trip being the first time half the team had been to Disney World, let alone a national competition, the team adjusted well to its new surroundings.

“The team’s behavior was exceptional,” Paine said. “They loved Disney, but [on the day of competition], they were all about competing and wanted to practice before they had even warmed up.”

Poindexter said the team performed once, during the semi-finals of the event, and nearly qualified for the finals. “We were only a tenth of a point away,” she said.

Paine and Poindexter attribute the team’s success to H.W. Wilkey Principal Gwen Lucas’ allowing the team to practice in the Wilkey gym four days a week.