Cheerleaders from 24 schools across northeast Georgia gathered on the campus of Dawson County High School on Saturday, Sept. 8 for the 23rd annual Tiger Cheer Classic. Featuring teams competing at all levels and in all regions, the all-day affair was a whirlwind of activity from the performances on the mat to the raucous enthusiasm of the large crowd gathered for the event. Despite a brief scare when a section of the team’s pyramid collapsed, sending girls tumbling to the floor, the Dawson County Tigers varsity cheerleaders opened their season with a monumental first place finish, winning the classic with an overall score of 89.17, a full 28 points ahead of their nearest competitor. “Overall it was a fantastic performance,” Head Coach Kim Fleming said. “We missed some elements on one pyramid, but the girls never let it show on their faces.”