MASONTOWN — In its first year of cheer competition, the Preston Royals are proving it can come out on top of the pyramid.
Coach Pam Feathers said her original goal in forming the team was to take it to a big competition for the experience.
But these girls are fierce. “When they take the floor, they’re competitors,” Feathers said. “It’s not so much the skills. You can teach skills, but they’ve got heart.”
The team took first place at the Level 2 Youth Recreation League in Cleveland, and on Saturday will compete at the finals in Erie, Pa.
Until recently, cheerleaders with Preston County Youth League teams had a cheerleading competition. Then it was changed to an exhibition. Some of the girls were disappointed, Feathers said.
“We just thought these girls needed a chance to compete,” said Assistant Coach Virginia Curry. She, like Feathers, has prior cheer coaching experience.
In August, they decided to form a team to enter at the Recreational Youth League, Level 2 and open it up to the whole county. Youths from third to seventh grade met the age requirements.
Feathers said this level was chosen because higher levels of competition like some Morgantown area teams are in isn’t doable in Preston County.
The team name and purple color came later, as an outgrowth of the Preston High Knights. The color purple is associated with royalty.
Another of Feathers’ goals was to make the team as cost free as possible for the girls.
“The parents really took the lead on that,” Feathers said. “And the community has really supported us.”
About $18,000 has been raised for the team. That paid for all the girls’ uniforms, shoes, sweatshirts, bows and a stay for one parent at the competition. The new owner of the former West Preston School allows them to practice in the gym there.
JoLynn Feathers, 12, and Jaycie Grogg, 13, both seventh graders at West Preston School, have cheered before but say the Royals is different.
“This brings all the schools together,” JoLynn said, and they love to compete. And, “There’s different age ranges, third graders to eighth graders, middle and elementary,” Jaycie said.
They both love the competitive aspect of the team.
“When they said Royals [as winners at the competition] it just all came out,” JoLynn said, “The tears just came.”
Parent Mary Anne Turner said her daughter, Bailey, 8, likes working with the older girls. She praised the hard work and dedication of the team, many of whom cheered for youth league teams at the same time they practiced with the Royals.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Turner said. “We thought we’d go once and it’ll be done, and now we’re talking about next year.”
