YOUTH CHEER: SAYRE, ATHENS SQUADS BRING HOME HARDWARE FROM NTYFL CHEER COMPETITION (6 PHOTOS) (2023-12-04)

Valley Sports Report
WELLSBORO — The Sayre and Athens Junior Cheer programs took over 100 cheerleaders to Wellsboro on Saturday for the annual Northern Tier Youth Football League Cheer Competition and brought multiple trophies home to the Valley.

The NTYFL Cheer Competition brings together cheer squads from Sayre, Athens, Wyalusing, Canton, Towanda, Cowanesque Valley, Southern Tioga, Troy, Wellsboro, and Waverly, and is an opportunity for cheerleaders in grades 1 through 6 to show their skills.

Teams compete in two categories, a dance and a crowd cheer, and individual cheerleaders can compete in a jump-off. Sixth-graders also have the option of performing a solo performance.

This year, Sayre or Athens placed in every event of the competition, marking at least the fourth consecutive competition where one of the two schools have placed in every event.

Sayre Cheer coordinator and head coach Colleen Rich was glad the cheerleaders had their chance to be in the spotlight for the day.

“It is always fun to come together to showcase this sport, and all the hard work these cheerleaders and coaches put in over the last few months,” she said.

“These cheerleaders spend most of their season supporting their teams, so it is nice to be able to celebrate them and their dedication for the day.

“Sayre has been able to do well at competition because of the support we receive from the Junior Redskins board, our cheer coaches, and all our parents and families,” added Rich.

Athens Junior Wildcat Cheer coordinator Ashley Moore added that she loves seeing all the schools come together for one day to recognize the young competitive cheerleaders as they step on to NTYFL mat to compete.

“It’s a great feeling as a coach to watch your routines come together and the cheerleaders have a blast while you look back into the stands to see the spirit and encouragement from family, friends and teachers,” she said. “It’s a great day all around.”

Sayre registered first-place finishes in “A” Squad Dance, and “A” Squad cheer, while Athens was second in the “A” Squad Cheer.

Sayre’s Lexi Thompson placed first in the 6th-grade Solo Performance, and the “A” Squad Jump-Off. Sayre’s Hannah Williams placed third in the “A” Squad Jump-Off.

Athens placed first, and Sayre placed second in the “B” Squad Dance, while Sayre placed first, and Athens second in the “B”Squad Cheer.

Athens’ Adriann Jackson was first in the “B” Squad Jump-Off.

Athens placed first in the “C” Squad Dance, while Sayre placed fourth. Athens placed second, and Sayre fourth in the “C” Squad Cheer.

Athens’ Adelaide Gorman placed first in the “C” Squad Jump-Off, and Athens’ Delaney Collum placed third.

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IN PHOTO 1: Sayre’s “C” Squad. IN PHOTO 2: Athens’ “C” Squad. IN PHOTO 3: Sayre’s “B” Squad. IN PHOTO 4: Athens’ “B” Squad. IN PHOTO 5: Sayre’s “A” Squad. IN PHOTO 6: Athens’ “A” Squad. … PHOTOS PROVIDED.