Wed, Jan 07 2009
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Published October 13, 2008 09:17 am - Keys cheer team celebrates championship By TRAVIS METCALF Sports Editor TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — On Friday night Keys High School celebrated a milestone.
Yes, there was a football game, but this milestone involved something else. Instead the milestone involved the girls on the sidelines who get the crowd fired up to watch the football team. At halftime, the Keys High School cheer team presented the state championship trophy to the school after it won the state championship in the small co-ed division last week in Norman. It was the high school’s first ever state championship in any sport. “I can honestly say, for the first time, this was a total team effort,” Keys cheer coach Andrea Stratton said. “In the past I could say that we had kids who’s skills were better than others. This year, I have so many kids that are at an elite level, everyone played a role. Keys finished with a total score of 345, nine points ahead of defending state champion Newkirk. Anadarko placed third. The choreography was directed by Tad Puetz. Puetz has been working with the cheer team for three years. Stratton said his influence is what has led the cheer team to the success it has had. “Since he’s started working with us, we’ve placed runner up and state champs,” Stratton said. “Every year, we’ve finished near the top.” In order to have made it to the state competition, the cheer team won first at its regional competition. The top two teams advance to state. Cheer are scored by five judges from out of state either from the National Cheerleading Association or the Universal Cheerleading Association. The top score and the low score from each judge are thrown out while the three scores in between are used to determine the total points. Stratton said her team’s routine, which was two minutes long, was one of the toughest routines presented, helping with their points. “We have the most elite tumbling and stunts that you can do at the high school level,” Stratton said. “We hit our routine perfect for state with one minor mistake.” Stratton said her team has only five seniors led by Hannah Osborn. Osborn is a flier on the team, however had to be converted to one after several years of not being a flier. “She really stepped up this year because she had not been a flier since she was a freshman and as a senior, I asked her to fly again,” Stratton said. “It was difficult at first, but she hit her stunt perfectly. She is a pretty good motivator and leads by example. She’s a very good team captain.” 
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