Piute Takes 2025 Cheer Championship for Second State Win

“GO, FIGHT, WIN!”

The sounds of pom-poms, energetic fans, and strong cheer voices rang through the UCCU Center Wednesday as 1A through 3A cheerleaders all competed for the state title. Piute’s co-ed cheerleading team took the championship this year, for the second year in a row.

Piute had won first in one of two designations, Co-Ed and All Girls. Panguitch took 3rd in All Girls, and Wayne took 5th in All Girls. 

To have a chance at getting to the championship, each team had to compete in the dance, cheer and show categories, and score well in each one. Piute’s first year going to competition, they qualified in one category. The next year, they qualified in all three and eventually won the state championship, a success they were able to repeat this year.

When the Piute team is preparing for state, they like to focus on the details. “We work on everybody being precise and the same,” said Piute Coach Carol Springer the day after the competition, “uniform and together as a team.”

That also involves cleaning up nice on the dance and cheer routines they already do multiple times a week during basketball games. “It’s also working on our energy and ability to engage the whole crowd,” said Carol, something that is not always as much of a priority during the halftime concessions rush at games.

Of course, Piute’s team also has a feature that most teams along the Byway don’t have this year: boys.

Boy cheerleaders are often sought out for their ability to lift flyers on their own or to throw higher basket tosses. And they are certainly an asset in that. But Carol says that’s not why she enjoys having their three boys on the team.

“[Having boys on the team] doesn’t make it so you can do different things,” she said. “It just adds a different element. My boys bring just a different, fun, spunky atmosphere. I do love having the boys.”

For both boys and girls, Piute’s experience at state this year was awesome. They were so excited to be there, and even more excited when they won.

Co-Ed Results

Here are the results in all categories for Co-Ed:

Dance:

1. Manila
2. Piute
3. Tintic

Cheer:

1. Piute
2. Tintic

Show:

1. Tintic
2. Piute

All Girls Results

And All Girls:

Dance:

1. Rich
2. Tabiona
3. Panguitch
4. Monticello
5. Wayne

Cheer:

1. Rich
2. Monticello
3. Panguitch
4. Tabiona
5. Wayne

Show:

1. Rich
2. Monticello
3. Panguitch
4. Tabiona
5. Wayne

Panguitch coach Cathy Woolsey also won 1A Coach of the Year.

Winning in anything is great, but, of course, cheerleaders can’t help themselves — they like to cheer.

“I do love being at state cheer,” said Carol. “There’s just a special feeling there with the other teams. Because we’re cheerleaders, we have a tendency to cheer on other teams. Not all sports really have that.”

After all, cheerleaders wouldn’t be cheerleaders without it.

– by Abbie Call

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Feature image caption: The Piute cheer team took first place in the 1A Co-Ed State Cheer Competition Wednesday January 22, 2025, at the UCCU Center in Orem.