Cheerleaders place 3rd at state competition

Pictures from Amy Tran, cheerleading assistant coach.

The Pattonville varsity cheerleaders went to Mizzou to compete at the state competition and placed 3rd in the state of Missouri.

The Vrahs earned their right to compete at the highest level earlier in the year and head coach Kalli Hunt and assistant coach Amy Tran thought that they were ready for the competition.

“To be able to qualify for state, you have to place Top 3 at regionals,” Tran said.

All season, they practiced in the Activities Center at the high school for 2 hours a day, three to four days a week and they used football games to perfect their routines in front of a crowd.

The team members do it for the love of the sport.

“I honestly love cheering,” Quincie Howard said. “I’ve been on Pattonville’s varsity Cheerleading team since 9th grade.”

This was Howard’s third year going to state and competing.

“I can’t believe it because some days I wanted to give up on cheer due to the fact that my dad passed away. He was my No. 1 supporter,” Howard said. “He would always come to the football games, basketball games and competitions to watch me cheer.”

Makayla Harden was on the JV squad last year and was experiencing the state competition for the first time. She said she was nervous because varsity takes a little bit more effort than JV but that she knew deep inside she could handle it.

“Going to state is nerve wrecking because when you’re out there on the floor, you’re wondering what if I’m not on tempo or what if I mess up on a flip,” Harden said. “When you’re out there, you’re putting on a big smile but deep down inside, you’re thinking ‘Oh my gosh, please let this hurry up and be over.'”

The girls finished in third in the competition. The team that took first place was Lee’s Summit North.