Last weekend, local school cheer groups attended the second largest school cheer competition in the United States, and repped for the athletic program that combines dance, tumbling, stunting and school spirit.

Piner Middle School cheerleaders won the National Cheerleaders Association’s novice non-building junior high/middle school crow leading first place award last weekend in Dallas.

It is the second biggest competition in the United States with over 900 teams in attendance competing in different divisions,” Sherman High, Piner Middle and Sherman Middle cheer coach Stephanie Littrell said. “We are blessed to have it in our backdoor here in Dallas. Next year, it will be in Fort Worth with Kay Bailey being under construction.”

This is the third time the school has competed in the competition and they are back-to-back champions in their division.

“There are a lot of components that go into this. We start our season right off the bat in April,” Littrell said. “We are very busy. It is a lot of work trying to get 13-15 girls doing the same thing with layered 8 counts and tumbling and all of the critiques that go into a score sheet. There is a lot of math that goes into it on my side and for the girls, it is all about their hard work and dedication.”

Piner Middle School’s cheer team is 24 students and a mascot. Sherman Middle School has 12 students and Sherman High School’s cheer team has 45 students and a mascot.

“It is a lot to wrangle almost 100 students, but it is well worth it to see all the growth and the growth mindset and the sense of family we gain with all the girls,” Littrell said. “I call it a sisterhood, a tribe but getting to build relationships with these families is great too. It takes a village to make this work program wide.”

Next week, SHS will be wrapping up their season with Disney World UCA Nationals, the biggest cheer competition in the United States for high schools.

“I like to tell the girls hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,” Littrell said. “We are always working on a new skill and when we check that box off. We want to have a growth mindset and be working towards the next level, hit the next stunt group, hit the next harder skill.”

Littrell also said while the population in North Texas is growing exponentially, the world of cheer in this area is also seeing new heights.

“Our small gyms have grown so when students ask what they need to do to get to the next level, I always say how about University of Gymnastics, how about The Ranch or other local gyms in the area,” she said. “It is nice to see they are also gaining some growth. As a community, we can keep carrying this on.”

This year, Sherman High School hosted its first cheer competition, Red River Rumble, with schools in Denton and Burleson already on board to attend the second rendition of the comp. SISD cheer teams have attended four competitions this season.

“This year, SHS will be hosting the first ever home camp a part of varsity,” Littrell said. “This year, SHS will also be hosting the UCA National regionals competition. We are bringing it to Grayson County and we are very excited about all the potential growth we are going to have in this area. But, also what that means for cheer and for the surrounding areas and even as far as Oklahoma.”

Though she has only been leading Sherman cheer teams for four years, Littrell has a long history with the sport. This is her 18th year in cheer.

“I have a huge passion,” she said. “I love it. This is my 18th year. We also have a lot great volunteers that come in and help. They are some from Cheer Athletics, from Worlds teams. They are choreographers. It truly takes a village.”

That village includes local gymnastics and all-star gyms as well as athletic programs for youth.

“University of Gymnastics, before we had a full competition mat here at Piner, they would let us borrow their facility,” Littrell said. “It is just nice to see the connection and the work that goes into this and the building in the community.”

As for sideline cheer, most local cities offer a low-cost program for those wishing to enter into the world of cheer.

“Working with SYSA (Sherman Youth Sports Association), they competed at our cheer competition,” Littrell said. “I hope they do again next year. We have that on the horizon for next season.

When these girls graduate, for some of them, Litterell will have had them for six years.

“We help with Special Olympics,” she said of the activities they participate in. “We help with SYSA if they need us. We help with parades and Women Rock’s charity Christmas event. We have a lot of appearances. We do “Reading with a Bearcat” for the littles. In February, we have a guest appearance to do. There is a lot. They are leaders and having that role, they have a lot of commitments.

But competitions mean something different.

“They do so much for others,” Littrell said. “Competition is where they get to shine and showcase their athletic side…The thing about cheer is maybe you are great with a megaphone. Maybe you are great with a sign. Maybe you are a tumbler. Whoever you are, we are going to showcase your talent and put those talents up on that mat to showcase and shine as a group.

Littrell is already planning for summer camps.

“This year, SHS will be going to OU for their cheer camp,” she said. “We are super excited. It opens another opportunity to have an experience with the kids and we will perform at an OU football game. We are growing and glowing.”

As far as opportunities for the future goes, cheer careers do not begin or end in high school or middle school.

“It is extremely competitive,” she said. “There are a lot of opportunities in college. There are very large scholarships available. We have teams competing not just in the country, but they are going overseas to compete in Worlds. And hopefully, eventually, cheer will be an Olympic sport. I am really hoping to see that in my lifetime or in the next 10 years…There is potential to grow in this sport. You can grow as an athlete. You can grow as a coach. You can grow as a career if you want to. Sky is the limit with cheer for sure.”

Littrell also thanked the local all-star cheer, gymnastics and tumbling gyms for their help in cultivating the community for the sport.

“Big shout out University of Gymnastics, The Ranch Cheer and Tumble, Texas Elite, North Texas Cheer and all the other gyms this area,” she said. “Those are some great places to get started.”

And, she noted that the athletes she works with are students first.

“They get merits for having straight As,” Littrell said. “These are amazing and impressive athletes with the grades to back it up. All of the potential that can be unlocked from cheer is amazing.”