Nov 1, 2017

Photos and text by Jen Rynda

: Atholton cheerleaders come out to compete during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Wilde Lake cheerleaders compete including Dashae Coley-Epps, center, 17, during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: River Hill cheerleaders gather around Dare McLaughlin, 16, before they compete during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Marriotts Ridge cheerleaders compete during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Mt. Hebron cheerleaders get together before competing in the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Glenelg cheerleader Allie Gorsuch, 15, puts on makeup before the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Centennial competes during of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Marriotts Ridge cheerleaders compete during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia, MD on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017.

: River Hill cheerleaders compete during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Reservoir cheerleaders Rosette Rand, left, and Natalie Shope, right, 14, prepare for the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Glenelg competes during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Oakland Mills’ fans Katie Baus, her daughter Cara Baus, center, 12, and friend Abby McDonough, right, cheer as the team enters the gym during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Long Reach competes during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Long Reach competes during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Cheerleaders hold hands before the winners are announced during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Long Reach competes during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Long Reach coaches including Nikkia Johnson, bottom right, cheer on their junior varsity team during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Wilde Lake cheerleaders including Jaidyn Sykes, center, 17, dance before the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Wilde Lake competes during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Atholton’s Morgan Nasir, 18, cheers while she takes video of the cheer battle before the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia. Nasir said, “I live for cheers like this”.

: Marriotts Ridge cheerleaders Emma Parks, left, 17, does her teammate Lilly Vazquez’s, 17, hair while she does homework before the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Glenelg’s Maya Schenk, 15, dances in the center of the cheerleading dance circle before the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Wilde Lake cheerleaders start a dance circle before the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Reservoir cheerleaders gather before the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Reservoir junior varsity cheerleaders cheer on their varsity teammates during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: River Hill fans cheer during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Centennial competes during of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Mt. Hebron cheerleaders compete during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Mt. Hebron’s Emily Weller, left, 16, and Sophie Bronow, right, 17, hug after competing during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: River Hill cheerleaders compete during the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Wilde Lake and Oakland Mills cheerleaders have an impromptu cheer battle before the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Reservoir cheerleaders Taylor Williams, left, 16, and teammate Jola Bamisaiye, right, 16, embrace before the start of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Howard competes in the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Long Reach cheerleaders pose for a photo after they are announced as the winner of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Long Reach cheerleaders react as their team is announced as the winner of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Long Reach’s Jordyn Tyler holds the team trophy while she and her team celebrate winning the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

: Long Reach cheerleaders pose for a photo after they are announced as the winner of the Howard County Cheerleading Championships at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

Howard County varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders gathered at Long Reach High School for the county championships. The student athletes filled the auditorium early Thursday evening to practice cheers, finish homework and engage in a cheer battle — all before the competition even started.

Supporters and fellow cheerleaders erupted with enthusiasm as each team had a chance to impress the judges with their routines. After the performances ended and each senior cheerleader was recognized, the gymnasium grew silent. Cheerleaders held each other’s hands in anticipation of announcement of the winner. Long Reach coach Nikkia Johnson’s team was announced as the victors. They earned a score of 122.5, which was just enough to hold off second-place Marriotts Ridge with 121.

Lots to cheer about at the Howard County Cheerleading Championships

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