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BHS team belatedly cheers results at state
Staff Writer The Brainerd High School Cheer Team finished first in Saturday's novice division at the state competition at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion - but didn't find out until Tuesday.
Because of a tabulation error, the 15 team members didn't find out they won until Tuesday, Brainerd cheer coach Darcie French said. French said that after the competition Saturday, they were told by judges that they took fourth place.
Minnesota Cheerleading Coaches Association president Alissa Dubay said in a telephone interview Wednesday that one of the volunteer judges wasn't using the correct tabulation method. Dubay said that once they found out there was an error, it was corrected and they called Brainerd with the news.
French said the whole situation is bizarre and that it was hard for her to comprehend that a mistake like that occurred.
"I'm thrilled for us, but I feel bad for Princeton, the team that initially won," French said. "This is the second year in a row where we won."
Other results in the novice division: Meadow Creek Christian School in Andover, second; Princeton, third; Armstrong High School in Plymouth, fourth; West Brook Walnut Grove, fifth; and Jackson County Central, sixth.
"They hit their routine and didn't drop any of their stunts," French said. "We're in a restricted level of stunts where we do the basics. There are no elite level stunts. We chose to be in the novice division because of the experience of our team."
Only four cheerleaders returned this season.
Amy Sumner-McCluney, who also is a cheer coach in Brainerd, said Saturday's routine was the team's best performance all year.
"We really had a rookie squad, and for them to come in and take first place is wonderful," Sumner-McCluney said. "They're bringing cheerleading back to Brainerd."
Cheer captains Sami McCluney and Falynn Lane, the only seniors on the team, were excited that the team went from fourth place to first.
"I'm happy for the girls on the team because they put in so much work," McCluney said. "When I found out we came in first, I didn't think it was true. I feel bad that they have to take a trophy away from the other team. It's crazy."
Lane said she believes the cheerleaders were robbed at the competition because of the tabulation error.
"Being at the competition and waiting for them to call your name to tell you that you won is awesome and we didn't get that. But I'm happy we won, especially since this is my senior year. We worked hard and this is what we wanted. We did our best."
The cheer team has one more competition this season - The Blizzard Invitational on Feb. 18 in St. Cloud.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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