Tiger Cheer Squad Sets Records All Year Long

In only its third season as a varsity athletic program, the Georgetown College cheer squad won the 2021 Mid-South Conference and NAIA Regional Championship. That isn’t even half of what the squad accomplished this season, in competition and in the classroom.

Coach Joanie Alexander, a former college cheerleader with a strong drive to build up the program, has led the Tiger cheer team since 2016. For the second-straight year, and for the third time in five years, Alexander was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year. She is the first GC coach to win this honor three times.

In February, the team became conference and regional champions, earning its first NAIA National Championship Competition spot. The Tigers have been on the brink several times but capturing the Mid-South Conference Championship and NAIA Regional Championship for an automatic bid was extra sweet.

“This has been a journey that our team and Georgetown College trusted me with,” Alexander said. “We are seeing the rewards I knew we could. I’m so excited with how well we’ve done and to know how young but mature we are. This isn’t an easy year for so many reasons, but at every turn this team impresses me and steps up to the challenge.”

In that competition, GC scored 91.5 — a program best. In addition, this past season, the Tigers placed first four times and never placed lower than third. At the two-day NAIA Competitive Cheer Championship in March, the Tiger cheer team finished ninth in the nation.

A lot of talent and hard work goes into a season like this, and recognition occurred on an individual level, as well.

Alyssa Adams ‘24 accomplished a first for Georgetown College. The freshman was honored as MSC Freshman of the Year and MSC Cheerleader of the Year. GC has had three previous Freshman of the Year honorees and eight Cheerleader of the Year honorees. Most recently, Macey McKenzie ‘20 earned COY in 2016-17 and Harper Williams ‘22 was FOY in 2018-19.

In addition, Sydnie West ’24 and Don Mullins ‘24 joined Adams as First-Team All-Conference honorees, while Myah Menfee ’22 and Payton Towry ’24 earned Second-Team All-Conference.

Tiger cheerleaders also scored big in academics. Ten Tiger team members made the MSC AllAcademic roster. Those who earn this honor are sophomores or higher who have maintained at least a 3.25 grade point average. Georgetown College was among the top leaders on the All-Academic roster, behind only two other schools. Georgetown’s All-Academic honorees include: sophomores Abby Bentley, Tori Bradley, Loren Clark, Jacob Clemons, and Chearlise Stoudemire; juniors Peyton Atwood, Gracie Gelnett, Menfee, and Williams; and senior Buddy Lukens.

In addition, Jennamarie Eckler ’23 was named to the MSC Cheer Champions of Character Team, a recognition for student-athletes who uphold the NAIA’s five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.

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