Pelham youth cheerleader, football teams have successful season

Published 10:53 am Tuesday, December 6, 2016

By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – Three of Pelham’s youth cheerleading teams competed in a competition at Vestavia Hills High School on Nov. 13 bringing home one first place and two second place wins.

Scott Verner, president of Pelham’s youth football and cheer league, said the second grade cheerleading team placed first in its age group at the competition and the K-1 grade and sixth grade teams placed second in their age groups.

Verner said participating on the competition squad is extra work, separate from the regular season.

“The coaches have extra practices during the season for the competition teams,” Verner said. “There are different routines and different music. It’s a lot of hard work put in by our cheer sponsors and our girls, who are having to learn and remember two different routines.”

Verner said this was the first time the K-1 and second grade teams have ever participated in a competition.

Each of the teams took home trophies and three of the sixth grade cheerleaders placed in the individual competition. Grace Ann Wages placed first and Jada Winston placed third.

Pelham’s sixth grade youth football team was also recently named the 6A regular season champions for the Jefferson Shelby Youth Football League.

Verner said the league operates on a ranking systems and the team ranked the highest at the end of the season wins the championship. The football team played other teams from Homewood, Chelsea, Helena and Briarwood.

Each of the 25 boys on the team received a medal and the team purchased a championship sign that will hang at the youth football field.