By MINDY KEPFIELD

Staff writer

Peabody High School’s cheerleading team has been working very hard since June — usually starting their practices at 6 a.m. at least two or three days a week, not counting game days.

The team’s dedication paid off this season with a first-place win at KSHSAA’s Spirit Game Day Showcase in Topeka. This is the first time that Peabody has competed, said coach Denae Flaming.

“For the first year that is pretty amazing,” she said. “Our goal is to go back next year and win it again.”

The girls netted their highest score for their fight song — but had to learn some challenging stunts such as a stair step leading into an extension for the competition as well. Their athleticism and timing impressed the judges.

“They said our movements were nice and sharp,” Flaming said.

Senior Maddy Beal became a flyer, the person who is lifted in the air during a stunt, when another teammate became injured. She said it is important to get the timing right and make sure the two stunt groups are in synch with each other – not very easy to do.

“Honestly I just want people not to think about cheerleading as something that’s not difficult to do,” Beal said.

“People think we yell and wave our hands and stuff. I would really like people to know how hard it is and how time consuming it is to do competition… How much time, and effort and blood, sweat, and tears we put into this.”