SHS, SMS cheer teams win at regional competitions

EVANSVILLE — The Seymour High School and Seymour Middle School cheerleaders recently competed in the JAMfest Regional Cheerleading Competition at the Evansville Convention Center in Evansville and both schools won the championship trophy in their respective divisions.

The high school varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders competed as one squad in the Advanced Large Varsity Division, and the middle school cheerleaders competed as one squad in the Intermediate Large Middle School Division.

Seymour High School also won the overall Most Entertaining Award for the third year in a row.

Seymour cheer dads Jason Sutton and Rick Clark represented Seymour in the Dad’s Dance Off and Pink Costume contest, with Sutton tying for the contest winner. Approximately 150 Seymour fans attended the event to support the cheerleaders. 

The high school squad advances to the JAMfest High School Nationals on Dec. 5 and 6 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

After JAMfest Nationals in Gatlinburg, the high school and middle school squads will advance to the JAMfest Supernationals on Jan. 16 and 17 at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis.

SHS head cheerleading coach Jamey Doriot said she was extremely proud of her squad, which scored an 8.535 before deductions.

“The girls have been working very hard this year to improve their skills, and I am very proud of them,” Doriot said. “They have an extremely difficult routine this year, and I am very pleased the girls were able to make the routine hit at regionals. It showed me they have the determination and the heart it takes to be successful at the next level of competition.”

Coach Carol Lambring added, “Although we have 11 freshmen on the squad, we have great upperclassman leadership, which is the core of this team. I am very excited they have earned the opportunity to go on to compete at the national level. If we continue to practice hard, stay healthy and clean up the routine to eliminate our deductions (of .55), this could be another great year for Seymour cheerleading.”

Seymour Middle School coach Tiffany Gray said, “I feel the middle school girls have come such a long way since the beginning of the summer. They have put their hearts and souls into cheering and their hard work paid off. I think the JAMfest HalloJAM competition was a huge confidence booster for the girls, and I know they are very excited about advancing to the supernationals competition. I know they will be working just as hard to ensure another great performance.”

Seymour High School is coached by Doriot, Lambring and Summer Smith, and assisting is Sara McIntire. Seymour Middle School is coached by Gray and Chris Franklin.