The Wagner Community School Cheer team held their second annual cheer competition in Wagner on Monday, September 23rd. It was a fun event that highlighted some excellent sportsmanship with the different squads cheering each other on. Teams that were a part of the competition included Wagner, Bon Homme, Dakota Valley, Winner, Gregory, Platte-Geddes/Andes Central/ Dakota Christian, Lyman, and Wolsey-Wessington. There were four different cheer categories at the event including Cheer, Hip-Hop Dance, Jazz Dance, and Pom Cheer.

In the cheer category, Platte-Geddes/Andes Central/ Dakota Christian placed 5th, Wagner placed 4th, Bon Homme placed 3rd, Wolsey-Wessington placed 2nd, and Winner placed 1st. Winners for the dance category included Winner being named the Dance Grand Champion and Gregory coming in second place, followed by Platte-Geddes/Andes Central/ Dakota Christian in third.

It was also parents' night for the Wagner Cheer squad. The team's only senior, Madi Robertson, was joined by her parents, Randy Robertson and Jennifer Robertson in the middle of the gym to be honored and recognized. Madi has been in competitive cheer for five years and was a sideline football cheerleader for two years. Her favorite cheer memories are riding the bus home from competitions “jamming to music or getting kicked by Addy.” Madi originally joined cheer because some of the upper classmen talked her into it and she ended up trying out for the squad. Single leg (when a flyer is standing on one leg in a stunt) or coeds (stunts that combine the strength of male and female cheerleaders that usually involve higher and more dynamic lifts) are her favorite stunts. As the senior team member, Madi’s advice to younger cheerleaders is to not overthink things because time goes by so fast. She encourages them to live day by day or meet by meet because “You got this.”

Congratulations to all the Wagner Cheer team members on a great performance!