State spirit competition within a point for Raton Cheer Feisty young Tiger Cats comes in sixth in dance competition
March 29, 2018
by Marty Mayfield, KRTN Multi-MediaThe 2018 3A Cheer State Runner-Up Raton Tigers: Brianna Marquez, Gabrielle Sanchez, Olivia Ware, Justine Mascarenas, Rachael Mestas, Estafani Martinez-Colin, Alexandra Barry, Justice Leavitt, Jennifer Acosta, Laynee Segura, Frieda Barela, Aliyah Samora, Joslin Mascarenas, Alexia Marquez, Kaylee Maes, Sarah Ware, Brooklyn Lawerence, Mgr. Jimmie Mascarenas, Head Coach Linda Ortiz, Assistant Coaches Randall Herrera, Jennifer Portillos. Photo by Marty Mayfield.
ALBUQUERQUE — It came down to the wire for 3A Cheer, as the judges’ final scores for the top three teams were less than five points apart at this year’s State Spirit Competition held in The Pit on the sports complex of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque March 23-24, 2018.
After day one, Raton was in the lead by two tenths of a point over Clayton, according to RHS Head Cheer Coach Linda Ortiz. Both teams had solid performances Friday, and the scores reflected that.
Saturday was a different day, however, with both Raton and Clayton having a fall in their routines while Pecos had an almost flawless performance.
Less than a point
Once the judges’ scores were totaled, Pecos was the 2018 3A State Champion with a score of 153.87. Raton was less than a point behind them with a 152.91 score. Clayton had lost three places in the final tally and came in behind Dexter’s 148.99 with a score of 146.38, just over seven points behind Pecos whom they were ahead of after Friday’s performance.
Coach Linda Ortiz noted, after Raton’s performance Saturday, that a fall would cost them points but she was still hopeful of a good score because of the complexity of their routine. She has been coaching for 29 years and was asked if she would make it back next year. Ortiz said, “These girls will be back next year.” When asked specifically if she would, her answer was, “We will see”.
The RHS cheer team performs one of their more difficult stunts Saturday morning during their routine in The Pit. Photo by Marty Mayfield
Tiger Cats Dance
Sue Holland and her very young Tiger Cats dance team are looking forward to next year, seeing this year as a building year. Holland has four eighth graders, four freshmen, and one sophomore on the team, and is looking forward to adding additional team members next year with some new eighth graders coming up.
The Tiger Cats were sitting in fourth place after Friday’s competition a place that Holland said was very good considering the youth of the team and the competition. Since there are so few dance teams in class A-4A, New Mexico Athletic Association lumped them together, putting Raton up against Class 4A schools like St. Mikes, who won the dance competition with a 176.40 score.
Hope Christian, who took second with a 172.70, were followed very closely by Sandia Prep with a 172.40. Raton finished the competition in sixth with a 146.70 score behind Taos at 151.40 and West Las Vegas at 149.00.
The enthusiasm shows in the faces of Justice Leavitt and Sarah Ware as they perform one of their stunts at the State Spirit competition Friday afternoon in The Pit. Photo by Marty Mayfield
Public vs private
The State Spirit Competition was, once again, the private schools against the public schools. A topic of conversation that has gone on for a long time at State Spirit, especially in the class A-4A area of competition, notes that private schools are often able to afford help with choreography and training that public schools are not able to afford. St. Mike’s (private) and Raton (public) will be in the same district next year as NMAA changes up the district lineup for the next two years.
The 2018 Tiger Cats Dance Team; Mira Maestas, Melinda Murcia, Lillian Romero, Shilyn Padilla, Antoinette Iron, Natasha Gonzales, Alexis Sanchez, Taya Ridenour, Faith Allison, Kimberly Ruiz, Manager Chloe Jiron They are coached by Sue Holland. Photo by Marty Mayfield
Is it a sport? darn right it is!
The question of whether cheer and dance are truly a sport was once again a topic of conversation at the State Spirit competition.
“Oh, they’re just cheerleaders,” one event staff member told me. However, after seeing the state spirit competition himself, he, too, had changed his mind. He said, “These ladies are athletes.”
I must admit that I, too, had felt the same way until I learned more about what these girls do and the amount of effort they put into the routines and stunts. They practice every day after school and also perform all school year for most sports.
State Spirit is their state championship. They have two minutes to perform a routine. They don’t have four quarters or seven innings to win the game. They have to come out of that tunnel at The Pit ready to perform and go all-out for two minutes to do a routine with stunts and dance. It’s an all-out effort.
To the girls who lead us in cheers at all the home ball games all year long, and the girls who dance for our halftime entertainment, “You girls rock!”… and we are proud of you and the work you put in for this sport!!
Gary M. Vezzani was elected Walsenburg’s mayor in Tuesday’s special mayoral election/recall vote. Preliminary results announced Tuesday night show that both Nick Vigil in Ward
Public assistance and home surveillance break case HUERFANO — Huerfano County law enforcement was able to identify, locate and arrest three persons for their
