Finally official: Salem Hills, Skyridge win state titles in first UHSAA cheerleading finals
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- Salem Hills cheerleaders react when they heard they had won the 5A all-girl state title after competing in the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Skyridge cheerleaders pose for a photo after winning the 6A coed state title after competing in the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- The Salem Hills cheerleading team poses for a photo after winning the 5A all-girl state title after competing in the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Skyridge cheerleaders compete in the 6A coed division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Salem Hills cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Westlake cheerleaders compete in the 6A coed division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Lehi cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Spanish Fork cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Wasatch cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Skyridge cheerleaders compete in the 6A coed division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Salem Hills cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Westlake cheerleaders compete in the 6A coed division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Lehi cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Spanish Fork cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Wasatch cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Timpview cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Pleasant Grove cheerleaders compete in the 6A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Timpanogos cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Springville cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Orem cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Timpview cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Pleasant Grove cheerleaders compete in the 6A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Timpanogos cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Springville cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
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- Orem cheerleaders compete in the 5A all-girl division at the UHSAA cheerleading finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
Spectators at just about every high school sporting event get urged to support the competitors by the cheerleaders.
This week, however, the tables were turned.
“At all the other sports, we’re cheering for them, we’re cheering them on,” Salem Hills senior cheerleader Brooklyn Leifson said Friday. “It’s not about us. It’s about the team. But at competitions, it’s all about us. That’s the one thing that we get to do that’s just for our team. It’s a chance to prove to our school that we can do things too. It’s really rewarding to compete instead of just being at a game. I love both of them, but it’s just so awesome to compete.”
For the first time in Utah history, cheerleaders gathered at the UCCU Center in Orem this week to compete to win official UHSAA state championships, just like the teams they have cheered on for so many years.
“We’ve always known that we work really hard,” Skyridge senior cheerleader Avery Sharp said. “We’ve always known that cheer has been something that takes a lot of effort and a lot of time. I just think that it’s so nice that finally people are going realize that and that we are going to be recognized for all the hard work that we put into it.”
Both the Falcons and the Skyhawks emerged with first-place trophies at the inaugural event, as Skyridge won the 6A coed division and Salem Hills came out on top in the 5A all-girls division.
But the reality is that just being able to showcase their skills as athletes is tremendously rewarding for the cheerleading teams.
Timpview athletic director Wendy Anae talked about how the Thunderbird cheerleaders have traditionally gathered to cheer on other sports teams have they have boarded the buses at the school to head to state competitions. On Friday, however, it was athletes from the other teams that were there in the morning to cheer on the cheerleaders as they headed to their own state finals.
“We are so excited about being sanctioned,” Skyridge head coach Gina Romney said. “I think this is official recognition that we’re very athletic and that we’re a sport. It’s pretty exciting.”
The official status of the sport did require teams to adjust. Salem Hills head coach Brittney Peay said her team — which has done very well in club cheer competitions — had to work hard to be prepared for new aspects of competition.
“We never really competed in the game-day categories before,” Peay said. “My girls have always been super good at games and performing, but we’ve never competed in those categories. It was definitely a big difference this year that we had to be good in all four categories to be successful today.”
She said her favorite moment was learning that her Skyhawk athletes had come in first place in the fight song competition.
“I was shocked because we had to work really hard on that one,” Peay said. “Other teams did great at that one today, so that was awesome. When we won fight song, I feel like that was the best feeling in the world.”
Salem Hills senior cheerleader Charlie Christensen said that what she will remember is how the Skyhawks didn’t let any errors keep them from being unified and competing at a championship level.
“At first we were like disappointed with some mistakes we made but we all came to realize that no matter what happened, we were really proud of ourselves,” Christensen said. “To see a good outcome was just awesome.”
Falcon junior cheerleader Hannah Worthin said that the way the athletes care for each other makes an enormous difference in how well a team does.
“I think that we were just together as friends and not just teammates,” Worthin said. “We were cheering each other on through even our faults and our mistakes. We were just with each other the whole time.”
Romney said that although it can be so challenging to have to be on the sidelines, there is nothing like seeing her squad excel when it’s competing.
“Honestly, I teared up every time they did well on the floor,” Romney said. “My favorite moment is watching them succeed. Honestly, that’s all it is. The win is great, but it’s all about enjoying their success and seeing them grow and be together.”
Salem Hills and Skyridge get to bring home the first UHSAA cheerleading state title trophies to their respective schools, but teams also earned other plaques for winning specific aspects of the competition.
The Skyhawks won their division in the game-day fight song and cheer categories, as well as took first place in the show competition. Lehi won the 5A all-girls game-day dance competition, while Westlake was first in that category in 6A coed division.
In the overall 5A all-girls team scores, Lehi was third, Wasatch took fourth and Spanish Fork came in fifth. Westlake came in fourth in the 6A coed division.
The 4A/5A coed division competed on Wednesday at the UCCU Center in Orem, with Payson ending up third and Provo finishing fourth.
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