WHEATLAND – This years cheer squad had some big shoes to fill.

Wheatland High School has brought home a lot of state champion hardware in its rich high school history. Last year, the competitive cheer team added to the collection with two more trophies.

The team was crowned state champions for coed cheer stunt and placed third for game day cheer and they hope to give an award-winning encore this year.

“I started practicing with the girls since the beginning of August,” said varsity cheer coach Catherine Benton who is also the computer teacher at Libbey Elementary School.”

The team lost a few key components to graduation, but Benton looks to the combination of youth and experience left on the field to carry the team to victory.

“It’s an interesting feeling coming back to the new state season as a former champion,” said Bulldog cheer squad coach Catherine Benton.  “Every moment we prepared for last year ended with the conclusion of the awards ceremony and a new team (and baby) was born.  It seems so familiar and yet a whole new level of pressure to do right by the athletes and give them another championship routine but as every coach will tell you, it's all up to them. 

“This year learning a new team, assigning new roles and finding who our true leaders are can always slow us down but the carousel never stops turning and we were quick to teach new skills to our team members.  Our team consists of 11 freshmen, five sophomores, five juniors and two seniors.  Overall, this team is very young and new to competition, so that could pose a challenge for us but their work ethic and commitment exceeds any other team we have brought to the floor.  It has been a refreshing experience this competition season having a group of students and parents who are all dedicated to the success of the team.  These athletes are extremely selfless and ready for any role they are assigned.  I think that will play heavily in our favor for our scores at state.  

“We are entered into the game day and All Girl divisions of competition this year.  As always, we live in a subjective athletic environment but we have worked to overcome this obstacle before.  This year we are pushing hard toward our game day routine and have started giving heavy critiques from head position to angles of their toes.  These last couple of weeks are the hardest mentally and physically because we will perform full out 4-5 times every practice and spend the rest of the time analyzing every movement, making changes to formation, changes to choreography, whatever it takes to give them the best possible chance at meeting their goals. Judging for these events comes down to tenths and even hundredths of a point.  The hardest part of Wyoming State Spirit is this is one of the few spirit competitions I’ve seen that it’s one performance and done.  Think of it as one chance to make the 3-point shot, one chance to run it in for a touchdown, one chance to hit, and if you miss it’s all over.  We prepare for this with worst case scenario phases where we will pretend we didn't hit a skill so the athletes know how to adapt.  The final weeks before state season is where we see the best and worst in ourselves but this year we have already shown that we have a strong team and these athletes are ready to do what it takes. Our returners have been exceptional leaders and our new members are unmatched in their talent and perseverance. This year has already been one for the books and now it’s time to prove it at State Spirit 2022.”