The Green River High School cheerleading team sent a loud and clear message at last week's state spirit competition in Casper -- they are hands down the best in Wyoming.
Green River finished first in all three cheer categories and returned from the competition with three state championship trophies.
"It was huge. It was the first time they did a full sweep," coach Debra Barton said.
She added it was a goal for coach Tim Chilcott for the team to be able to sweep all three categories.
Green River finished first in the all-cheer category with 82.167 points. Cheyenne South was second with 81 points.
Green River and Evanston tied with 73.677 in the non-stunt division, but took the title after winning the tie-breaker. Barton said because the teams were tied, first-place was decided by who had the higher point total in the overall effect category.
The team also finished first in the co-ed division with 78.667, finishing ahead of Cheyenne Central who finished with 75.33 points.
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The team returned to Green River on a cloudy Thursday evening, bringing a bit of sunshine with them as they celebrated. The Green River Fire Department, as well as the high school's school resource officer Ken Yeager escorted four busses of cheerleaders back to GRHS. Once they stepped off, cheerleaders and their families embraced and celebrated their win. Many of the girls received flowers while some were given celebratory balloons.
"It was an unexplainable feeling," Sidney Peterson said about hearing Green River's win announced at state. "It was unbelievable."
"I felt really proud. We worked for it," Ryli Drake said.
The team put in hundreds of hours of practice time leading up to the competition. Drake said for roughly 10 months, the team would practice Monday through Friday for about four hours each day. On Saturdays, the team would practice for between six and eight hours.
"We've been doing this since December, we're always practicing," Peterson said.
Barton said the closer the team got to state the amount of hours the team put in was huge.
"I'm very proud of them," Barton said.
She also thanked the parents and said they did an amazing job bringing the team meals during long practices and making sure they had enough Gatorade and water during the season.
With state over, Drake said she plans to relax for the next few months, until tryouts begin in May.
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