North Gwinnett High School’s Game Day Cheer team wins state title

 

      North Gwinnett High School’s Game Day Cheer Team has once again proven its excellence, capturing the 2024 Georgia High School Association (GHSA) AAAAAA State Championship! This marks the team’s second title in three years, having previously claimed the championship in 2022.

     Tabatha Johnson, the head coach of North Gwinnett High’s Game Day Cheer Team, is proud of her team. “When you are competing in the highest classification, it is always a challenge to win. The competition in this division is always tough, and you just never know what the judges are looking for,” Johnson shares. “This team also had some adversity to overcome with having the flu right before state, having a key member getting injured and out for the season, and then the day of the competition, we had a music mishap that could have really messed them up in prelims. But they didn’t let any of those setbacks get in their way. They were determined to come out on top and win it all.”

     Game Day Cheer is a competition that showcases a cheer team’s ability to lead a crowd and create an electric game-day atmosphere. Teams perform a routine that includes sideline chants, crowd-leading cheers, band dances, and a fight song designed to demonstrate spirit, enthusiasm, and school pride—just like they would on a Friday night under the lights. Johnson, who coached this year’s team with Kelly Halcomb and Emily Troughton, says winning at North Gwinnett High is incredibly satisfying because of her connection to the school. “Words can't describe how it feels to be able to win a state championship for your Alma mater. I have so much pride being a North Gwinnett grad, and I feel so honored that I get to coach there,” Johnson explains. “The kids, administrators, and parents are just amazing. Being able to win numerous state championships is just icing on the cake. I feel like it's the one thing I can do to give back to the school that raised me.”

     This latest triumph further solidifies North Gwinnett High’s tradition of excellence in the Game Day division. Since the GHSA introduced the Game Day state meet seven years ago, the school has claimed four state championships, secured two runner-up finishes, and earned a fifth-place ranking.

     North Gwinnett High had four cheerleaders on the school’s last state championship team in 2022 — seniors Addy Moity, Alivia Ponzio, Emma Kate Perkins, and Olivia Bak. This year’s squad consisted of seven first-year students, two sophomores, 14 juniors, and nine seniors. 2024-25 Team members include seniors Olivia Bak, Averie Gary, Sydni Jefferson, Addy Moity, Emma Kate Perkins, Alivia Ponzio, Lauren Richards, Morgyn Seltzer, Alivia Watson and Anna Atherton; juniors McKinley Bignall, Isabella Choto, Chloie Cochran, Emma Doherty, Callaway Halcomb, Ryan Hankins, Samantha Mitchell, Cameron Nix, Maggie Norris, McKenna Page, Salyssa Robertson, Dylan Ruff, Karrington Willis and Makenzi Laws; sophomores Ida Lyman and Hannah Bennett; and freshmen Ella Fisher, Harper Kramm, Lily McLean, Tenley Nielsen, Harper Pyles, and Carolina Villalobos.

     Congratulations to the coaches, athletes, and supporters who made this incredible achievement possible!