The Tyrone Area High School Cheerleaders hosted “The Battle of the Bows,” a local cheer and dance competition at the high school on January 13.
Over 50 teams competed at the day-long event and several local groups won awards.
Tyrone sophomore Emily Christofer from Nova All Stars was one of the local competitors. Her team finished first in the open level four division.
It’s a chance to show close family and friends what they have been working on for months. Not all the time can relatives travel to see them compete. We are very proud and excited to see them keep going all the way until finals in Florida
— Hailey Durbin
“The competition this weekend was a fun and exciting experience for me and other people,” Christofer said.
Tyrone senior Kenzie Lewis from Dance Fusion competed in the junior hip-hop division taking home first place out of three teams.
Tyrone juniors Layna Dibert and Olivia McMonagle also competed in the same division with Volition Cheer All Stars, taking home second place.
McMonagle and Dibert also won first place in the senior group dance division.
Dibert also competed in the cheer division. Her team finished first of four teams.
Some Tyrone students also had the opportunity to coach young cheer and dance squads. Dibert and McMonagle coached in the tiny division with their girls placing third out of five.
They also coached a cheer abilities group. Cheer abilities teams are made up of competitors with special needs and coaching them is an opportunity for the girls to give their best no matter the circumstances.
“Some deal with many challenges that have come their way in life. Yet they still go out there and win everyone away. They have the whole crowd cheering together no matter what team they come from,” McMonagle said.
Local Cheer Competitions are an opportunity to come together as a community and support one another and each girl who goes on to the mat.
Volition Cheer All-Star owner Hailey Durbin said that the competition was great opportunity to be in the community and socialize with the other local gyms.
“It’s a chance to show close family and friends what they have been working on for months,” Durbin said, “Not all the time can relatives travel to see them compete. We are very proud and excited to see them keep going all the way until finals in Florida.”
