GRAND JUNCTION – When the top teams were announced at the regional spirit competition in Grand Junction in mid-November, the results left Mancos third-year head coach Megan Daves-Warner in a state of confusion.
After not hearing her team’s name announced among the top 2A teams in their competitive Game Day and Co-Ed Cheer performances, Daves-Warner shared the disappointment that her team felt. Then, moments later, she heard the Bluejays named as the runner-up in the 3A division.
“I went and spoke with one of the judges after I heard our names announced in the wrong division – we’re a 2A school,” said Daves-Warner, “and the judge told me that we had scored so close to the winning 3A school that they assumed that we were a 3A program, too.”
Disappointment turned to jubilation as the Bluejays learned that their high scores from their performances had them placed as the top 2A team in both categories.
“When you’re competing against programs that have 20 kids – we had seven at regionals – it says a lot about our team’s dedication,” added the Mancos head coach.
It was a fitting achievement for a hardworking group, as the group adjusted to new performance routine elements in preparation for the competition.
“In the week before competition, I threw two new routines at them – and they nailed both of them without a single deduction,” said Daves-Warner.
The Jays mastered two different styles of programs – the Co-Ed category involves dance and tumbling elements while the Game Day category involves more components that might be seen on the sideline at a football game.
The Jays feature multisport athletes, which both brought out the competitive energy from her squad, while also posing significant challenges.
“Every single one of our team members is a multisport athlete, so trying to work around their volleyball, basketball, swim, etc., … schedules has made establishing routines difficult,” said Daves-Warner.
For Daves-Warner, one of the biggest areas of growth came not only through the development of the team’s preparation this year, but the overall growth of the program in recent years.
“Several years ago, Mancos didn’t really have a cheer team, let alone a competition team, but we’ve got peewee and middle school programs going – and the kids love the opportunity to compete, and we’ve made it fun for them,” said Daves-Warner.
With all the fall sports wrapped up, Mancos will be able to field their full team for their Co-Ed performance at state – 11 athletes with five boys and six girls.
A pair of captains, Madison Daves and Elly Coey, have made it a family atmosphere, according to Daves-Warner. Daves was named all-state as a sophomore after the Jays qualified for state last year.
Daves earned the Main Flyer honor in the Western Colorado Region, while Parley Smith received recognition for Best Individual Jumps.
Lauding their achievements, Daves-Warner complimented their dedication through the past three years to help a program without any seniors continue to buy in to the commitment that has elevated the program to among the best in the state.
Mancos enters the CHSAA State Spirit Championships brimming with confidence, as the Jays will take to the Denver Coliseum floor on Friday, Dec. 13, competing in the 2A/3A Co-Ed Cheer division. The Jays are slated to compete at 2:49 p.m. for their 2-and-a-half-minute routine.
The top teams from the qualification round will advance to the finals, which will take place beginning at 7:30 that evening.
Mancos won’t be the only area team battling in Denver – the Montezuma-Cortez cheer team will compete in the 2A/3A Game Day division on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 3:13 p.m., while the Dolores squad will compete in the 2A Cheer division on Friday morning at 9:53 a.m.
“I’ve been beyond ecstatic with this team,” said Daves-Warner. “They’ve been willing to try everything we’ve put in front of them, and they’ve taken this program to the next level.”
