HANCEVILLE- After a postponement date due to concerns over COVID-19, the Alabama High School Athletic Association held its 2021 State Cheer Championships in its recent date reset. Both James Clemens and Sparkman exited the fierce competition with state championship trophies.

James Clemens won both the Varsity 7A and Varsity Game Day 7A divisions while Sparkman took top honors in both the Varsity Coed and Junior Varsity Coed.

“I am so proud of these athletes and how hard they been working this season with the challenges the COVID-19 situations presented us such as the quarantines,” said Hannah Stockman head cheer coach at James Clemens. “They have used these challenges to drive them to greatness and it has paid off. Our routine was very difficult and we believe that is what will help us stand out in the Nationals coming up in April just as it did at the State Championships.”

In the final standings in Varsity Game Day 7A, the Jets were tops followed by Sparkman as runner-up and Bob Jones coming in fifth place. Stockman said of her squad, which took the Game Day title, “Wow! This was such an accomplishment for the athletes. We have worked so hard to get to the top seed in Game Day. It is very meticulous division to compete in and the scores can very close. Both of our victories are sweet.”

In Varsity 7A, James Clemens took first place while Bob Jones took second.

The James Clemens roster for the State Championships featured Kenze Achenbach, Ashley Ahrens, Whitney Bailey, Kathryn Bennefield, Alex Corn, Ava Cramer, Paris Dryer, Evelyn Edger, Shayla Hawkins, Mary Kate Heusel, Jayden Hines, Julia Ingalls, Alexis Ivy, Emma Koerlin, Manie McDonald, Perri McMahan, Ashlyn Newberry, Kiersten Ratcliff, Samantha Rhodes, Gabbie Russell, Katie Russell, Mandie Russell, Syndey Snodgrass, Malikah Stowe, Emily Tieszen, Ella Thomas, Alyssa Tucker, Kaylee Tucker, Alexis Wayne and Shelby Williams.

For Sparkman, which has won two World Championships and 13 National Championships, placed in its traditional position as top performers in the two Coed Divisions. Four seniors, two each male and female, led the squad to a Regional Championship late 2020 and continued their leadership to a Class 7A State Championship.

The Sparkman squad included the four seniors Laura Damewood, Hayden Ottum, Tyler Vickery and Mya Weber along with the remainder of the squad members Jacob Bannerman, Quinton Billups, Jamiyah Dozier, Jada Gibson, Teleyah Hester, Grace Anne Ingram, Kyndal Miller, Senna Roberts, Emma Cobb, Aamirah Hayes, Jordan Moore, Vanessa Salaam, Payton Wikoff, Amiyah Cooley, Madison Fletcher and Madison Russell. The Senators’ head coach is Lisa Aderholt.

The Junior Varsity Game Day competition had Sparkman in second place. In the Junior High divisions of the state competition, Monrovia was runner-up in Small Junior High.