Limestone College cheerleaders are shown preparing for their first-ever competition Saturday in Concord, N.C. The Limestone student groups competed against schools from across the country in the CCA Nationals Cheerleading Competition. Limestone College cheerleaders started at the top Saturday when it came time for their firstever competition.

Stunt groups from Limestone finished in second and third place in their division at a national cheerleading competition in Concord, N.C. The event drew 100 teams from across the country to vie for a national title awarded by the Christian Cheerleaders of America.

Limestone did not compete for the title in the team portion of the cheerleading competition.

Instead, the college competed in the open stunt group division. The cheerleaders worked since July to put together one-minute routines featuring an array of basket tosses, tumbling, advanced transitions, pyramids and partner stunts.

Limestone head cheerleading coach Hailey Peay views Saturday’s event as another step in an ongoing effort to start a competitive cheerleading squad at Limestone College.

“Both groups’ routines were amazing. They have done a great job of hitting the difficult and challenging skills,” Peay said. “We did very well for our first competition. Our number-one goal next year is to go compete as a team in the cheerleading competition.”

Gaffney High junior varsity cheerleading coach Kelly Thornton has helped the team this year.

The majority of the Limestone competition cheerleading team members are from Cherokee County.

Limestone Stunt Group 2 finished second in its division. Members include Blacksburg High graduate Kaila Burton and Gaffney High graduates Kendall Moore and Taylor Wright.

Limestone Stunt Group 1 finished third in the division competition. Local Gaffney High graduates competing with the group were Karina Chery, Brooke Fowler and Twyla Hardy.

Peay said her goal is to eventually compete in up to three events each year. She will hold tryouts for next year’s cheerleading squad in mid-April.

“This is a pivotal moment for our cheerleading program and I look forward to continuing to grow in our experience and build Limestone Cheerleading into a competitive force,” Peay said.