WOODLAWN - The Woodlawn High School cheer team has been declared the Academic State Champion for cheerleading among all classifications by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA).
Each year, the AAA awards a single Academic State Champion in each sport for the team that has the highest cumulative grade point average among its members.
The 2022-23 cheerleaders for Woodlawn High School were Anna Adai, Emily Ashcraft, Baylee Aud, Skylar Conner, Annie Davidson, Chloe Hargis, Kelsi Mack, Sarah Beth Melhorn, Lily White and Cain Wilkins.
The championship, according to the AAA, is awarded to teams who have achieved academically. It is based on each team member's cumulative grade point average for the most recent official grading period.
One single state champion is declared for all classifications, Class 1A through 7A.
The Woodlawn School Board recognized the high school's 2022-23 cheer team during its meeting Monday night.
Woodlawn cheer coach Heather Hargis said the championship is determined on a 4point, non-weighted scale. She said the WHS cheer team had a cumulative average GPA of 3.86 with the lowest being 3.79.
"It's a true team award," she told the board.
Hargis commended the cheerleaders for their hard work during the school year as they often had to blend their studies between cheer practices.
Cheer team selections are made in March followed by a couple of months off before beginning summer cheer camps and practices. Hargis said they (continued from page 1) cheer throughout the football and basketball seasons.
Hargis said practice sessions become more difficult during the basketball season since the gym is shared with four basketball teams: boys and girls junior high and high school teams. She said their practice sessions during the basketball season started at 6:15 a.m.
Hargis said she likes to stress academics throughout the season, often taking tim...
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