However, during an open house event Wednesday evening, tragedy struck.
One of the cheerleaders, the back spot, suffered a severely broken hand as she did a flip. The back spot lifts the other girls into the air and hold the ankles of the girls. They also catch the cheerleaders in the mount.
Tug Valley Cheer Coach Tara Ellis said she had to replace the girl with an alternate, who had to learn the entire routine in just a few hours.
“We spent nine hours yesterday in the gym and we had to rearrange our whole routine,” Ellis said. “I have to stay positive for the girls.”
The Wayne County Board of Education filed suit so that Tolsia would be allowed to compete in the 2009 State Cheer Competition in December last year. The Tolsia cheerleaders won and the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission postponed the Class AA competition until tomorrow. Now, though, Tolsia has pulled out of the tournament, saying the competition would be a hostile environment. But, despite all the problems they’ve faced, Ellis said her cheerleaders are ready for the competition.
“She has never backspotted and I had to change my routines,” Ellis said. “We’re devastated. All we’re hoping for is a good showing. We’re sure going to give it our best.”
The Tug Valley cheerleaders won the Region 4 championship and were favored to win the competition. “The girls are in good spirits,” Ellis said. “We have hope. We’re getting ready and we’ll practice today.
“I think we still have an opportunity. I hope we go up there and we make our school and community proud. We didn’t work five extra months to lay down and die.”
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