The GRC Cheer team has competed many times in the In-Game Region 10 competition, but one cheerleader is bringing home all the trophies.
Junior Bailey Adkins killed the game this past year in the season as she brought home Boys All-Region In-Game Cheerleader and Girls All-Region In-Game Cheerleader.
“Bailey stood out to judges during our in-game cheerleading competition last week in spirit, motions, crowd leading, and overall cheerleading,” said Coach Jerrica Whitaker. “She showed outstanding spirit while cheering on our boys and girls teams.”
In-Game Tournaments are different for cheer from any other game. They’re being judged from the minute they start pregame to the end of the final fight song.
The goal is to be awarded the Sweet 16 In-Game Championship at Rupp Arena. However before reaching that point, two cheerleaders are rewarded for standing out to the judges. Bailey was rewarded every time the cheer team was judged this year.
“You have to practice how you perform,” said Bailey. “Every single game, even when there’s a small crowd and the clock is running, cheer like you are competing.”
Cheering along the sidelines appears simple to the average eye, but in-game competitions are very tiring and tough. There’s not a dull moment or time to take a breath.
“There’s not a single moment during these games to stop cheering,” Adkins said. “From pregame to the final fight song we are constantly jumping, cheering, and going crazy.”
The cheerleaders go to both boys and girls games, keeping them busy throughout the season.
“We usually cheer about 2-3 games a week when Basketball’s in full swing,” said Adkins. “It can get pretty busy but it also makes our endurance stronger for competition time.”
Bailey has been cheering for 11 years, making her moves appear effortlessly.
“Bailey is such an amazing asset to our team,” Coach Whitaker said.
Having been a cheerleader almost all of her life, Bailey knows what it takes to be the very best.
“It’s really hard to walk into cheerleading with no prior experience,” she said. “Cheer is something you have to really learn and practice before you start.”
Being a strong backbone on the team, Bailey carries her team through her great leadership skills and talents.
“Bailey is someone the entire team looks to when we don’t know what to do,” Sophomore Mileigh Wills says. “She is so awesome. I look up to her in every way and I know the other people on the team do too.”
Her dedication and experience not only make her standout, but also a help establish her as a leader the team can rely on.
“Cheer has given me so many friends and opportunities, but it’s also taught me important lessons that I will need for life,” Bailey says. “Having confidence and being able to share with other people is so important.”
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