MOUNT VERNON — The Dan Emmett Festival offered more than music Thursday night as the seventh annual cheerleading competition was held near the downtown square.
Teams competed in the middle school and high school divisions. The high school teams were so well-matched that the judges deliberated at great length before announcing a decision.
Six high school teams competed in the spirited competition. The competition is not a regional or state event but the squads lent enough enthusiasm to the event to qualify for spirit.
Three trophies were given in each division. In the high school division Centerburg High School came away with first place, East Knox won second, and Mount Vernon won third. In the middle school division, Centerburg won first place, Cardington took second, and Danville third.
Exhibition trophies were also given to three talented teams: America’s Best Cheer & Dance, YMCA Rockets Youth team, and YMCA Rockets Varsity team.
Each team had two minutes and 30 seconds, including one minute of dancing to music, to perform for the judges. The four judges — Cara Dewitt, Andrea Griffith, Shelley Rose and Katie Mills — all had cheerleader backgrounds.
The squads were judged on a range of techniques including motion, voice projection, transitions, formation, jumps, choreography, use of props and overall impression.
The competition organizers, coordinated by Jill Spearman Macklin, also thanked sponsors Wise Choice Propane and Pressler Carpenter Family Dentistry. Appreciation was extended to Mount Vernon High School, East Knox High School and Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
