Paige Grider for The Republic The Schmitt Rockets celebrate winning Cheer Day at Columbus East, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.
Schmitt Elementary has won the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s 2023 Cheer Day Competition, marking the school’s first time in more than a decade taking home that honor.
All 11 BCSC elementary schools competed in the cheerleading competition on Saturday, said communications coordinator Josh Burnett. CSA Lincoln came in second place, and Parkside was in third.
Burnett noted that, according to announcer Dennis Pierce, this is the first time since 2011 that Schmitt has won Cheer Day.
In addition to the elementary competition, BCSC’s middle and high school cheer teams gave exhibition performances, with Columbus North High School offering a special tribute to Ariel Roberts, a North cheerleader who recently died of glioblastoma.
The cheer performances were part of BCSC’s SOUPer Saturday event, which also featured the boys’ and girls’ finals for the Elementary Basketball League and a canned food drive to benefit Love Chapel. According to Love Chapel Executive Director Kelly Daugherty, these donations totaled 323 pounds of food.
“It (SOUPer Saturday) was a great event,” said Burnett. “Huge support from the entire community. There are so many people that came out for Cheer Day.”
Livestream recordings of the cheer competition and EBL games can be viewed on BCSC’s YouTube channel.
