Lynchburg girls win national cheer championship

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Hill City Athletics College Prep Cheer team has achieved a historic first for the state of Virginia, winning a National High School Cheerleading Championship. The team, known as the Storm, secured the title in the gameday competition for the 11-18 year old division.

A First for Virginia Cheerleading

Despite being the sole competitor in their division, the Storm team was required to meet a specific scoring threshold to claim the national championship. Their performance resulted in gold medals, a championship trophy, and the coveted white jackets – described by team member Kaiyah Seigla as “pretty much every high school cheerleader’s dream to wear.”

Did You Know? The Hill City Athletics team practices at The Edge Martial Arts and Tumbling gym on Timberlake Road in Lynchburg.

Dedication and Sacrifice

The team is led by captain Lilli Reynolds and coached by Susan Hunter and Mariah Dailey. Reynolds emphasized the intense commitment required, stating, “This is all I do…It takes a lot of conditioning. When we don’t hit something, we run until we can’t anymore. It’s a lot of hard work, honestly. It’s really hard.”

The dedication extends beyond the athletes themselves. Parents have made significant investments of time and resources, with Jenn Glover noting that family vacations now revolve around her daughter Olivia’s competitions. Practices consume much of the team’s schedule.

Expert Insight: The level of commitment described by both athletes and parents highlights the growing demands of competitive cheerleading, which increasingly resembles other elite sports in terms of time investment and financial burden.

Looking Ahead

Coach Dailey has structured Hill City Athletics as a college prep program, and many team members intend to continue cheering at the collegiate level. They also hope to leverage their skills and dedication into scholarship opportunities. Seigla explained the necessary mindset: “A lot of long practices, deep conversations with your coach and just like understanding if you want this you have to put in the effort and the time.”

this national championship will serve as a catalyst for increased interest and investment in cheerleading programs throughout Virginia. The team’s success could also inspire younger athletes to pursue competitive cheerleading. Further success at the national level is a possible next step for the Hill City Athletics program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who coaches the Hill City Athletics College Prep Cheer team?

The team is coached by Susan Hunter and Mariah Dailey, and captained by Lilli Reynolds.

What did the team win?

The team won a National High School Cheerleading Championship, along with gold medals, a trophy, and white jackets.

How often does the team practice?

Practices take up most days of the week, according to parents, and require a significant time commitment.

What does it take to succeed in competitive cheerleading, according to the athletes themselves?