Valley, Eldorado, Hope, Rio Rancho Defending Champs

If you thought the winter prep sports season was over, think again. Technically, it won’t end until the cheering stops Saturday night.

Although we’ve officially flipped the calendar to spring, the last of the winter postseason events, the State Spirit Competition, begins this morning at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Dance, drill and cheer squads from across the state will gather for the New Mexico Activities Association’s biggest moneymaking state competition outside of basketball and football.

Last year, state spirit was conducted as an official sport for the first time.

A total of 110 teams — 39 dance, 71 cheer — are entered this year. They are judged on two routines: one today, one Saturday.

For the cheerleaders, they will be scored on crowd involvement today, then routines with music Saturday.

The dance squads must all perform a “pom” routine today, but have four options to choose from Saturday for their second routine. The options include prop and precision drill, but also jazz and hip-hop.

Teams qualify for state by entering three NMAA-sanctioned competitions during the school year. The event is scored by out-of-state judges.

“We really want to bring in judges with no (previous) interaction with these teams,” said Kristin Derr, the NMAA’s coordinator of activities and spirit. “We would love to get to the point to have enough judges here in New Mexico to use for state, but that’s at least five years down the road.”

Eldorado (coed), Rio Rancho (cheer) and Valley (dance) are the defending state champions in 5A. The Vikettes are after their seventh straight title; Rio Rancho is the two-time defending champion. The cheer squad from 3A Hope Christian is trying for a ninth consecutive crown.

There are sessions at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. today. Saturday’s sessions are also at 8 and 4.

Tickets are $8 for adult general admission both days. The ticket cost is for one individual session. Student/senior tickets cost $5 per session.
— This article appeared on page D4 of the Albuquerque Journal