Competitive cheerleading: Snow Canyon, Crimson Cliffs win divisional titles

Written by Jeff Richards
January 23, 2024

ST. GEORGE — The competitive cheerleading teams from Snow Canyon and Crimson Cliffs high schools each took first place in their respective categories at divisionals.

Crimson Cliffs cheerleaders compete at Southern Divisional championships, Delta, Utah, Jan. 6, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Crimson Cliffs cheer, St. George News

Snow Canyon and Crimson Cliffs each swept first place in all three of their competition events at Utah High School Activities Association’s Southern Division championships, which were staged on Jan. 6 at Delta High School.

With Snow Canyon competing in the 4A all-girl cheer category and Crimson Cliffs competing in 4A coed, the Warriors and Mustangs both took first in Show Cheer, Time Out Cheer, and Time Out Dance, thereby also placing first overall.

Both teams will be looking to defend their 4A state titles later this week in Orem.

“Southern Utah is known for its incredible cheer talent and our competitors were outstanding,” said Snow Canyon Head Coach Elsha Gubler, who added, “Cheer is not an easy sport by any means. These cheerleaders work so hard year-round, prepping for games, making signs, cheering at multiple games and matches each week, in addition to rehearsing competition routines.”

Crimson Cliffs head coach Becky Erickson said she was proud of her team, which numbers 41 athletes, “for all their hard work and commitment to this program and each other.”

Snow Canyon cheerleaders compete at Southern Divisional championships, Delta, Utah, Jan. 6, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Snow Canyon cheer, St. George News

“At division, we were faced with some challenges and had to overcome some injuries and multiple changes to every routine,” Erickson told St. George News. “We couldn’t be more proud of our team for learning to trust the coaches and each other. We left everything we had and more out on the mat and it showed.”

Two other divisional championships were held the following weekend (Jan. 12-13) in Salt Lake City. The top placing teams from each of the three divisionals advance to the UHSAA state tournament at Utah Valley University in Orem later this week, on Jan. 25-26.

In addition to Crimson Cliffs and Snow Canyon, three other cheer teams from Southern Utah’s Region 9 also qualified to compete at state, namely Cedar, Desert Hills, Dixie. The 4A and 5A competitions will be staged on Friday starting at 9 a.m. For a complete schedule, click here.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the 1A, 2A, 3A and 6A championships will be staged, also at UVU, starting at 8:30 a.m. Southern Utah schools that have qualified to compete include Canyon View (3A all-girl), Enterprise (2A coed), Beaver (2A coed), Parowan (2A all-girl), Kanab (2A all-girl), Panguitch (1A coed), Bryce Valley (1A coed), Piute (1A coed) and Wayne (1A all-girl).

For Thursday’s complete schedule, click here.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons and one granddaughter. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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