Gimme a '1!' Cheer team places in national competition

Gimme a “C,” gimme an “H,” gimme an “E” “E” “R.” What’s that spell? The Dartmouth Pop Warner Indians cheer teams made it to national competitions. The varsity team made it to regionals for the second year in a row, and the second time ever. The junior Pee-wee team made it to regionals for the first time.

“I’m just super proud of them,” said Head Coach Katie Nicholson.

Varsity placed first in the RISMA regional competition against six other teams. They performed a two and a half minute cheer routine to a medley of songs, with the theme of racecars. 

“The competition was right next to the NASCAR museum, so we were like ‘Oh maybe that’s a sign that we’re going to do good because our theme is race cars this year’,” said Nicolson. 

The team had to change their routine at the last minute though when one girl dropped out, and they had to change spots and fliers right before the competition. 

The varsity team won regionals for the first time last year, and the same team returned this year to win again. 

“It was a fun experience, so we all got to get really close and it was a lot of team bonding,” said team member Olivia Thornson. 

The junior Pee-wee team placed second in regionals, competing against nine other teams. 

The teams will be going to Foxwoods next month for the last competition of the season.