GAINESVILLE – Clay won the Class 1A Large Co-ed Division while Fleming Island and Oakleaf earned Class 2A runner-up trophies at the FHSAA State Cheerleading Championships Feb. 4-5 at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville. Six Clay County schools competed.

Clay, a runner-up in 2017, earned the top spot on the podium this year with a routine that featured dizzying tumbling passes, a boisterous cheer portion, difficult stunts and an intricately built pyramid. The near-flawless display earned 75.3 points from the judges, easily outdistancing Fort Walton Beach (70.9) and Eustis (63.4), the second and third place finishers.

“The team’s performance was full of energy and excitement,” said Clay head coach Lori Davis. “They did a great job throughout the entire routine.”

In Class 2A, Fleming Island and Oakleaf suffered similar fates, receiving lower scores than they had at the regional competition despite executing their routines without any falls. Oakleaf’s routine was the same one the Knights had scored a 78.55 with at the regional competition on January 19, except that it included an additional formation change during the dance portion. It earned a 69.9 in Gainesville.

“I’ve never been more proud.” said Oakleaf Head Coach Lauryn Philpot Philpot afterwards, who had added the formation change due to judges’ feedback at the regionals. “I cried. And I have never cried after a routine before. It is the first time Oakleaf has ever come to State and hit our routine.”

Lake Mary won Oakleaf’s 2A Extra Large Division with a score of 74.9.

Fleming Island received a 76.6 from the judges in the 2A Large Co-ed Division, compared to the 80.25 they had scored at the regional with a less difficult routine. The Golden Eagles’ new stunts included a “full-up to a handstand”—a stunt where the flyers start upside down and do a twist on their way up above the bases’ heads.

“They were awesome,” said coach Ryan Andrews said of the Eagles. “They were clean, energetic and they hit it.”

Andrews was philosophical about the scoring.

“This is a subjective sport,” he said. “All we can do is perform to the best of our ability—and I think we did that—and see where they [the judges] put you.”

Bartow won the division with an 82.3.

With a score of 65.3, Middleburg did not make it out of the semifinals of the 1A Small Co-ed Division, in part due to a three point penalty for extending their routine over the allotted time.

“They put on an amazing performance, their best to date,” said Middleburg coach Rhiannon eiskopf, whose bases also executed cupies. “I am so proud of them.”

Rounding out the finishes for Clay County schools, Orange Park finished ninth in the Semifinals of the 1A Small Division with a score of 60.2, not qualifying for the Finals, while Ridgeview finished fourth in the Finals of the 1A Small Co-ed Division with a 64.85.

Coach Angi Brannan and her Bishop Snyder Cardinals brought home the school’s first ever state cheer championship in the Class 1A Large Non-Tumbling Division. The Cardinals qualified for the state competition with a very difficult routine that included high to highs and “one and a half ups”—a stunt in which the flyer turns a full circle on her way up into a full extension while the base him- or herself twists 180 degrees.