Featured Photo: 1. (Above) The six high school cheerleading teams of Buncombe County Schools. 2. (Below) This season, the T.C. Roberson High cheerleading team earned a first place NCHSAA state finish and an invitation to the Universal Cheerleaders Association's national competition in February. Photos provided by BCS high schools. Special thanks to BCS Athletics Specialist David Ball for assistance with this story.
By: Breanna Hensley and
Benjamin Rickert
BCS Communications Dept.
Athletic competitions are back in action this year, including cheerleading. In Buncombe County Schools, cheerleading is a strong tradition with an excellent reputation.
This year, three Buncombe high school cheer teams participated in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's Cheerleading Invitational. In addition to Roberson’s first place Medium Varsity D1 finish, Clyde A. Erwin High earned fourth place and A.C. Reynolds High placed eleventh in the Small Varsity Non-Tumble D1 category.
Whether at competitions or school athletic events, squads were glad to be raising spirits and flying high this school year.
“Getting to compete again was such an amazing feeling,” said T.C. Roberson High assistant cheerleading coach Bayley Whitson. “The girls missed out on so much last year due to COVID-19. They worked so hard each week on top of cheering at games to support other athletic teams.”
The Rams’ hard work paid off, and the team brought home the first state championship title since 2016. They also received a first time bid for the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) national competition. The girls will hit the mat at Nationals this February 11-13 at Orlando’s Disney World.
“This is a huge accomplishment,” said Whitson, “as only the best of the best in the country get to go.”
Buncombe County Schools features strong cheerleading programs that promote teamwork, academics, hard work, and athleticism at Enka High, Charles D. Owen High, North Buncombe High, A.C. Reynolds High, Clyde A. Erwin High, and T.C. Roberson High.