In a four-day camp RHS cheer coach Stephanie Mayfield said was “a wonderful experience” for her girls, Golden Tiger cheerleaders in middle school, JV and varsity squads learned new cheers and stunts to pump up Golden Tiger fans.

“Every night we worked tirelessly until the wee hours,” said Mayfield. June 20-23, camp participants stayed in the dorms and worked each day in the Beard Eaves Memorial Coliseum on Auburn’s campus. The Golden Tiger girls spent each day learning new cheers, stunts and routines and each evening competed to earn ribbons. RHS earned the highest achievement, superior ribbons, each day.

Mayfield’s squad has one new cheerleader, Yaneli Bahena-Garcie, who “had never cheered a day in her life,” Mayfield said. Mayfied was proud to see Yaneli gain confidence and show advanced skill, achieving the challenging “bow and arrow” stunt at camp, a little-accomplished feat with so little experience.

RHS girls and teams earned the following recognitions at the UCA Camp.

Varsity:

• Superior Squad
• UCA squad credentials
• Superior Gold Ribbons in Cheer, Extreme Routine and Sideline Performance
• Leadership Spirit Sticks each day
• First place in Extreme Routine Championship
• Second place in GameDay Championship
• Second place in Cheer Championship
• Third place in Sideline Championship
• Individual honors: captain Ellie Kerby, UCA All American, Pin It Forward Award and UCA staff invitation; co-captain Madison Hargett, UCA staff invitation; and Sarah Grace Kimbrough, Pin It Forward Award

Junior Varsity:

• Superior Gold Ribbons in Cheer, Extreme Routine and Sideline Performance
• Second place in Extreme Routine Championship
• Third place in GameDay Championship
• Third place in Cheer Championship
• Fourth place in Sideline Championship
• Individual honors: Pin It Forward Award, Destiny Hatton; and All Americans: Destiny Hatton, Shelby Carson, Kyra Greenhill, Callie Palmer, Abby Peters and Lauren Mae Sturdivant

Middle School:

• Superior Squad
• Superior Gold Ribbons in Cheer, Extreme Routine and Sideline Performance
• Leadership Spirit Sticks each day
• First place in Cheer overall
• Individual honors: Pin It Forward Award, Sophie Hill; and All Americans: Keslie Allen and Sarah Morgan

The JV is coach by Beth Gilmer, and middle school is coached by Marla Kerby.

“What we learned at camp, we’re bringing right back to Russellville,” Mayfield said. “I think we’re going to have a great year.”