With just a few weeks until the Region 7-3A cheer competition, the Dawson County varsity and junior varsity competition cheer squads displayed their skills and preparation at the 28th annual Tiger Cheer Classic hosted by DCHS Saturday, Oct. 8.

While plenty of schools showed up to the event, many in the crowd helped give the hometown team some rousing support.

With the crowd on their side, both teams earned first-place finishes by capitalizing on the recently added elements to their routines while continuing to perfect the earlier elements.

“The girls always elevate their game when performing for the home crowd,” varsity head coach Kim Fleming said. “I was proud of their overall execution. I still think there are areas we can improve on.”

Led by coaches Brooke Walker, Samantha Sheriff and Tiffani Jones, the JV team got off to a flying start, raising the already considerable volume in the Ford Phillips Center up a notch and showing the consistent depth of Dawson County cheerleading.

The varsity squad added a couple of bold moves to their routine, including additional flips, tumbles, and choreographic elements. 

By the end, Dawson’s performance balanced discipline with flair, easily entertaining the home crowd. Their execution put them ahead of fellow 3A squads Stephens County, Ridgeland and Gilmer. 

With the JV season concluded, the varsity team will be bringing up a pair from the feeder squad to give the team a chance to maximize points in difficult parts of the routine.

While Fleming was proud of the team’s home showcase, she knows that her group has plenty more to offer.

“They had a lot of energy on the floor today but we have not peaked yet,” Fleming said. “We are hopeful that the tough competition that we will face the next few weeks will help motivate us to keep raising our scores.”

The varsity team has two more competitions before the region championship — at South Forsyth Saturday, Oct. 15, and at Chestatee Saturday, Oct. 29.