North Lenoir, E.B. Frink win Lenoir County Agricultural Fair Cheerleading Competition
Photos by William “Bud” Hardy / Neuse News
It was a La Grange sweep at the Lenoir County Agricultural Fair.
North Lenoir won the high school division trophy and E.B. Frink took the middle school crown in front of hundreds at the Lenoir County Fairgrounds. Besides local teams in the event, schools such as Heritage High from Wake Forest and Norwayne Middle School of Fremont also participated. Teams were judged on numerous characteristics, including jumps, choreography, showmanship and partner stunts.
Hawks coach Gail Jernigan said the reigning Eastern Carolina Conference champions dealt with adversity, but was still able to pick up a victory.
“We have worked hard for this,” Jernigan said. “We have struggled with two out (due to injuries) and we still won. This is the best group of girls I’ve ever coached.”
North Lenoir’s Kaitlyn Jennings said it was a great way to wrap up her high school fair career.
“It feels amazing to bring home first place my senior year,” Jennings said. “We have worked so hard for this and we’ve finally done it.”
East Duplin would finish the high school tournament in second place and Heritage took third place.
In the middle school division, Cavaliers coach Porscha Gardner said the team wanted to come back even stronger after finishing second last year.
“We knew we had to bring it this year,” Gardner said. “Our showmanship was the biggest thing we needed to work on and the girls brought it. I can’t take any of the credit — it’s all them and their commitment.”
E.B. Frink’s Trinity Robinson said she was excited about the win.
“It feels like this was our way to redeem ourselves from last year and show people we can do it,” Robinson said.
Woodington finished second in the middle school tournament and Rochelle took third in the schools’ first competition.
Vikings co-head coach Keiara Morris said the cheerleaders put in plenty of effort in order to prepare.
“Their hard work paid off over the past couple of months and they deserved (to place),” Morris said.
Rochelle co-head coach David Monk said the team will build on the placing with additional pieces to routines.
“(You can) expect greatness (in the future), with more stunts and tumbling,” Monk said.
Rochelle’s Mariana Branch said she had a good time.
“It felt great seeing it was my first competition,” Branch said. “We just have to keep getting better.”
