The PortalesRam cheerleading squad made history last Saturday at the first ever competition held in Portales. Fort Sumner, Dora, and Tucumcari traveled to make their mark at this first time Portales event. The competition kicked off with each team performing a two and a half minute dance that included a stunt and cheer. Portales's very own cheer squad took first place at this event. Senior, Haley Perry, says, “I think the coolest accomplishment was how big of a turn out we had. The crowd was way bigger than any of us expected and they were a GREAT crowd.” The bleachers were packed full of fans going crazy for the love of their cheerleaders! Junior fan, Karimah Hulett, said, “It felt awesome to be the one cheering them on for once! They are ALWAYS there at our games smiling even when we’re losing and it means more than they will ever know! I’m so proud of them!” The girls have been working with incredible work ethic and dedication since the beginning of summer. Endless practices, cheer camps, and workouts paid off with this weekend's victory.
Following the dance competition was an individual jump and tumbling competition. Jumps consist of literally jumpingin the air and doing a stunt. Any tumbling you see are the front flips, backflips etc. Winners of the jump competition were freshman Amelia Legler, and junior Alex Sherman. The best tumblers were freshman Anja Tech, sophomore Jessica Baird,and senior Katie Banda. All of the girls have been working on tumbling fiercely; all of their hard work is beginning to come together and pay off. Senior, Taylor Hancock, says, “I may not have won the jump competition but it was still very fun!”  A boy from Tucumcari, unfortunately, beat Hancock and Kayleigh Johns in the second round.

Coaches Amy Lovett and Ashley Wolfe organized the entire event. Lovett and Wolfe have definitely set a new tone for Portales Cheerleading in the last two years! Lovett said there is a lot more work that goes on behind the scenes she would not have known about without a first-hand experience. “Hosting the first ever competition was amazing!” head coach Amy Lovett explains. When asked the first word that comes to mind when she thinks back to Saturday she smiled and said, “AMAZING!”