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MPCHS cheer team returns to Henry County Fair
For the first time following COVID, MPCHS cheer team entertains during Bill Riley Talent Show intermission
MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant competitive cheer team returned to entertain and engage crowds at the Henry County Fair this year during an intermission of the Bill Riley Talent Show.
According to head coach Nikole Keaster, the team used to always perform between the Sprouts and Seniors categories of the Bill Riley Talent show, however, this is their first year back following the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We are super excited because we used to perform at this and we have brought it back this year,” she announced as her team laid purple mats on the stage floor.
The team performed an exhibition for the talent show crowd that showcased a lot of the elements the team has worked on throughout the summer.
“We spent our summer working on getting back to basics with technique and emotions and we’re working on executing new tumbling with some of the girls this year,” Keaster said. “This is their first performance and we are a very young team so they’re really going to feed off of you cheering for them and we’re going to be cheering for each other.”
The crowd responded and loud cheers erupted from the crowd as the girls flipped, clapped, and stunted their way through an energetic performance.
After they completed their exhibition, Keaster directed the girls to leave two of their stunt mats on the floor and invited the crowd to join them to do stunts together.
Slowly, but surely, little girls and boys shyly approached the cheerleaders to be lifted into the sky with broad smiles across their faces.
As the crowds of children wanting to stunt and parents wanting pictures began to grow, others started showing interest in giving it a shot.
Henry County Fair Queen First Runner-Up Abby Miller, encouraged by former Henry County Fair Queen Chevy Mills, put her trust in the hands of the cheerleaders and attempted to fly.
Even after her first attempt didn’t get very far, Miller mustered up the courage to try again with a little more instruction from the cheer experts.
Keaster even got in on the fun as she worked with Varsity Cheer Coach Kailey Mulford, and alumni Sydni Witson to lift alumni flyer Katie Ensminger into the air.
In addition to cheering on football, basketball, and other sports teams, Mt. Pleasant’s cheer team also will compete at the state level at the beginning of November.
“We will compete in 3A cheer and dance divisions,” Keaster said. “In our division we will be scored on stunting, jumping, tumbling, motions, and dance so it is a very competitive category.”
According to Keaster the team is “on track to be working on high level skills by the time choreography comes around.”
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
