Furnished photo The CCHS Tiger Cheerleaders are headed to state after taking first place in their division at the regional competition. Squad members are (front, from left) Brittany Layne, Shelby Travis, Becca Thomas, Tori Cornish, Mary Mac Joiner, (middle) Taylor Gilkey, Janell Cooper, Audree Cummins, Courtney Cooper, Brittany Bruce, (back) Kaitlin Rollins, Katelyn Nichols, Emmy Ward, Susan Smiley, Lindsey Conway and Sarah Conway, Not pictured are alternates Layne Bannister and Lainie Beckner. The squad is also being honored for their solid performance during the All ‘A’ Classic at Richmond (below) when they cheered for the Lady Tiger Basketball Team. The squad will head to their state contest Feb. 20 in Bowling Green.
	Furnished photo
	Furnished photo CCHS senior cheerleader Tori Cornish, pictured with coach Connie Brandon, was the recipient of a KAPOS Region 2 Scholarship.

The Caldwell County High School Tiger Cheerleaders are in the midst of one of their most successful seasons to date.

The local squad has earned a trip to the Kentucky Association of Pep Organization Sponsors (KAPOS) 2010 State-At-Large Cheering Competition, set for Feb. 20, at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green.

They earned the spot by taking first place in the medium division at the Region 2 contest, which was hosted by Caldwell at the CAB on Jan. 25.

A medium squad is allowed up to 16 members on the team. Caldwell finished just ahead of Union County to take top honors in their division at the regional contest.

The Tiger Cheerleaders will face off against 16 teams in their division, all regional champions, at the Feb. 20 competition.

“We will be judged on a two-and-half minute routine that incorporates dance, tumbling, jumps and cheer,” said Connie Brandon who coaches the squad along with Staci Jones.

The last time Caldwell’s squad made it to the state competition was in 2004, according to Brandon. The team placed sixth that year.

The Tiger Cheerleaders will travel to Bowling Green the morning of Feb. 20 and will compete in the afternoon session, which begins at 1:45 p.m. Caldwell will be the seventh team to take the floor.

Brandon said not only did the squad make a good showing to earn the trip to state, but also took first place honors at the Kentucky Cheer and Dance Classic in Murray Dec. 19 and are being recognized for their efforts during the girls’ All ‘A’ Classic in Richmond where they cheered for the Lady Tigers Jan. 27.

“The cheerleaders are judged during the tournament,” said Brandon. “They are watched throughout the entire game and judged on their sideline cheers and halftime cheer as well as overall pep, enthusiasm and crowd interaction during the game.”

Caldwell’s squad was named runner-up in the judging, taking second place behind Somerset’s squad.

“They did a really great job, and we expect to have that trophy presented to us during Tuesday night’s game,” said Brandon. The Tiger squad will receive its trophy from the All ‘A’ Classic during the Tigers home game against Hopkins Central Tuesday, Feb. 9.

In addition to honors and awards claimed by the entire squad in recent weeks, Brandon said senior cheerleader Tori Cornish was also named one of the KAPOS individual Region 2 scholarship winners for 2010.