Aggie Cheer 7th at NAIA Regional

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. The Oklahoma Panhandle State University Competitive Cheer Team in just its second year as an NAIA sport earned a seventh place finish at the NAIA Southwestern Region Qualifier on Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena. It marked the highest finish at the NAIA regional event in the Aggies' brief history in the competition.

Panhandle's squad had a cumulative score of 65.57, with a 64.03 in the prelims and 66.08 in the final round. The Aggies outdistanced Bethany College, Friends University and Sterling College in the final standings, with less than 10 points separating fourth through seventh places in the tight competition.

OPSU had minimal deductions of one point in the prelims and just .25 of a point in the finals.

The eight-person competitive co-ed team roster for the Aggies squad included the following members: Kayla Arter(Jr./Lawton, Okla./MacArthur H.S.), Zeke Bermea(Fr./Levelland, Texas/Levelland H.S.), Zion Byrd (Jr./Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill H.S.), Shayla Eastland(Fr./Guymon, Okla./Guymon H.S.), Kentarius Felton(Fr./Montezuma, Ga./Macon County H.S.), Averie Kelso(Fr./Maypearl, Texas/Maypearl H.S.), Quatro Luna(Jr./Odessa, Texas/Permian H.S., and Remie Seward(Fr./Stratford, Texas/Stratford H.S.).

"The absolute best thing about this competition is the other teams and coaches," Aggie Head Coach Audrey Brooks said of the NAIA regional competition. "Although we are competing against each other, it is more like we are cheering each other on to achieve our personal best. We even scheduled stunt clinics with several of the teams and are looking forward to developing those friendships.

"A big thank you to all the team members, administrators, family, and friends who came to cheer for the cheer team at National Qualifier. We loved it!"

NAIA Southwest Qualifying Group Competitive Cheerleading Championships
at Oklahoma City University
Abe Lemons Arena
Final Standings
1. Oklahoma City, 86.01
2. Missouri Baptist, 80.16
3. Bethel (Kan.), 76.45
4. Kansas Wesleyan, 75.18
5. Wayland Baptist (Texas), 74.12
6. McPherson (Kan.), 72.18
7. Panhandle State, 65.57
8. Bethany (Kan.), 58.51
9. Friends (Kan.), 58.89
10. Sterling (Kan.), 53.38