Get Preview Cheerleading State Championships

State Championships return to the Columbus Civic Center for two days of electrifying routines and competition. The first day of action will see squads from each classification (AA-AAAAAAA) compete to secure a place in Saturday’s finals. Day 1 will also crown the champs of Class A-Public, Class A-Private and the high-flying COED Competition.

Class A-Public has seen Gordon Lee win the last three state crowns, and the Trojans are making their return to Columbus to compete against Commerce, Lake Oconee Academy, Irwin County, Bowdon, Baconton Charter, Ace Charter and Lincoln County on Friday for this year’s title. When Class A split for the first time seven years ago, Mt. Paran began its current championship run and the Eagles enter the weekend having taken the Class A-Private championship every year since. The Eagles headline a field of finalists this year that includes Savannah Christian, Brookstone, Hebron Christian, First Presbyterian Day, George Walton Academy, Calvary Day and Pinecrest Academy.

Mill Creek won its first-ever CO-ED state title last year and recently placed second at the CO-ED Sectionals behind North Gwinnett. Milton, Chapel Hill and Forsyth Central also had top 5 finishes and will be among the 16 teams contending for this year’s CO-ED title..

Lowndes are booked for the finals on Saturday after placing first in their respective regions this past weekend. Defending state champion Lambert placed second in Region 5-AAAAAAA behind South Forsyth and therefore will be one of the 16 squads that will take the stage on Friday in hopes of qualifying for Saturday’s finals.

Northgate earned the top seed out of Region 5-AAAAAA over the weekend and will aim for its fifth-straight Class AAAAAA title this Saturday. The Vikings previously won 5-straight titles in 2007- 11 and another title would give the program its tenth all-time title. Northgate is already joined in the finals by top seeds Houston County (Region 1), Richmond Hill (Region 2), Lakeside-Evans (Region 3), M.L. King (Region 4), Creekview (Region 6), Pope (Region 7) and Region 8 champion Lanier.

Two-time defending Class AAAAA champion Carrollton (Region 7) secured one of the classification’s seven spots in Saturday’s finals with Warner Robins (Region 1) South Effingham (Region 2), McIntosh (Region 3), Ola (Region 4), Lithia Springs (Region 6) and Loganville. On Friday, a field of 23 Class AAAAA teams will compete for one of the 9 spots that are still available for Saturday’s finals. Photos courtesy of Unforgettable Moments Photography/GHSA