Athens Cheer heads to Orlando to compete for national titles
Published 9:16 am Saturday, February 8, 2025
Athens High School Junior Varsity Cheer Team perform during a recent competition. Joshua Dendy | For The News Courier
Joshua Dendy | For The News Courier Athens High School Super Varsity Cheer Team perform during a recent competition.
Courtesy Photo | Athens City Schools. Athens Junior Varsity Cheer Team poses together after winning first place at the the UCA Space Center Regionals in Huntsville last fall.
Courtesy Photo | Athens City Schools. Athens Super Varsity Cheer Team poses together after winning first place at the UCA Space Center Regionals in Huntsville last fall.
The Athens Cheer Program sent almost 60 student-athletes to Orlando, Florida, Thursday, Feb. 6, to participate in the 2025 Universal Cheer Associations National High School Cheerleading Championship, according to Athens City Schools.
The Athens Super Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheer Teams earned their spots in the national competition after taking top honors at the UCA Space Center Regionals in Huntsville in fall 2024.
Athens Junior Varsity Cheer Team, which includes members from both Athens Middle School and Athens High School, received their bid to UCA Nationals after they placed first in the Large Junior Varsity Non-Tumbling event and second in the Large Junior High Game Day event.
Athens Super Varsity Cheer Team received their bid to UCA Nationals after they placed first in the Super Varsity Traditional event and fourth in the Super Varsity Game Day event.
Both the Athens High School (AHS) and Athens Middle School Cheer Teams fall under the leadership of Athens City Schools Cheer Coordinator Gia Russell, Varsity Cheer Coach Tasia Farmer and Junior Varsity Coach Ashley Lovelac. The Athens Middle School Cheer Team placed third in both Traditional and Game Day events at the 2024 AHSAA State Cheer Competition in the fall, as well.
“The support of our community, school board, superintendent, AMS and AHS principals and Athletic Director are instrumental in our success,” Russell stated in the release. “The coaches and athletes work year-round to compete at the highest level in this sport. I could not be more proud of the perseverance and dedication these girls have for each other and their sport.”
The 2025 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort from Friday, Feb. 7, to Monday, Feb. 10. AHS will compete in Super Varsity Game Day, Traditional, Large Junior Varsity Game Day, and Traditional events starting Sunday, Feb. 9.
These competitions are the pinnacle of cheerleading competitions for high school cheerleaders across the country. Athens High School won first place in Super Varsity Division II at the 2024 UCA Nationals, so they will be looking to bring even more hardware back to the city of Athens this time around.
