Defending champs highlight GHSA Cheerleading State Championships

The first series of finals held during this year’s GHSA Cheerleading State Championships, hosted at the Macon Coliseum, featured the Class 2A and 4A competitors ahead of Class 1A and Private. The finals continued on Saturday back at the Coliseum with Class 3A and 5A competing in the morning session, followed with Class 6A and the COED competition in the afternoon.

North Paulding was able to walk away with the program’s first-ever state championship in the Class 6A competition. Buford followed in second place followed by Hillgrove in third and two-time defending state champ North Forsyth in fourth.

The 5A competition saw McIntosh defend its spot at the top as the Chiefs claimed their 10th all-time title in program history. Houston County and Creekview placed second and third, a repeat of last year’s finish, followed by Sequoyah in fourth.

In Class 4A, Cartersville was able to defend its state title while picking up the Purple Hurricanes’ sixth all-time finals victory. In second place was 2023 state champion Central-Carroll, followed by last year’s runner-up Cambridge and Union Grove which finished third and fourth, respectively.

A first-ever champion was crowned in Class 3A as Heritage-Catoosa denied Cherokee Bluff a repeat title, with the Bears finishing second in this year’s competition. West Laurnes and Mary Persons finished third and fourth, respectively.

In Class 2A, Pierce County also defended its spot at the top with a consecutive state title, the Bears’ ninth all-time finals victory including five straight from 2015-19. KIPP Atlanta placed second for a second-consecutive year, while Coahulla Creek and Sonoraville finished third and fourth, respectively.

The Gordon Lee Trojans returned to the top of the podium for the first time since 2021 as they claimed the Class A-Division I state title, the program’s seventh all-time title following six-straight from 2016-21. The Trojans were able to deny Bremen a consecutive title, with the Blue Devils finishing second while Swainsboro finished third with Armuchee placing fourth.

The Class A-Division II competition saw Lake Oconee Academy repeat as champions for the Titans’ second-ever title. Metter placed second, an improvement from last year’s third-place finish, followed by Schley County and Screven County in third and fourth, respectively.

The Mt. Paran Christian Eagles continued their streak of dominance with the program’s 14th-consecutive state title and 12th within the Private classification. 2022 state champ Savannah Christian placed second with North Cobb Christian placing third followed by Hebron Christian in fourth.

In the COED competition, the Roswell Hornets picked up their first-ever state title, as 2024 third-place finisher Denmark finished second. Richmond Hill and Greenbrier finished third and fourth, respectively.