Metro Cheer Squads Prep for Regionals at APS Cheer Competition

Grady Cheerleaders — The APS Metro-Atlanta Cheer Competition will be held Saturday, Oct. 31, at Benjamin E. Mays High School. Varsity competition starts at 10 a.m. Middle schools will compete following the completion of the varsity competition.

APS has spirit, yes we do! APS has spirit, how about you?!

The cheers, chants and stunts are bound to be a lot more involved than that when Benjamin E. Mays High School hosts the fifth annual Atlanta Public Schools Metro-Atlanta Cheerleading Competition, Saturday (Oct. 31), beginning at 10 a.m.

More than 30 competition cheer squads from across the metro Atlanta will compete in four separate divisions this year – varsity, junior varsity, co-ed and middle school. Last year’s varsity champion, Mays, will seek to defend its title on its home mats.

Atlanta Public Schools Athletic Director Jasper Jewell said the event has grown steadily in popularity as metro area squads sought a quality competition that was closer to their schools.

“Our competition has become popular and sparks the interest of so many schools in the metro area because of its location, Jewell said. “There are not a lot of options inside of I-285. Also, teams know they will see good competition here, and with regional competitions beginning in the first week of November, our event provides a great warm up.”

More than 30 competition cheer squads from around the metro area will compete in four separate divisions -- varsity, junior varsity, co-ed and middle school. — More than 30 competition cheer squads from around the metro area will compete in four separate divisions — varsity, junior varsity, co-ed and middle school.

Along with the growth of the event, Jewell said he has seen growth and improvement in competitive cheerleading in the district over the past five years.

“I remember when the only competition squad we had was Mays,” Jewell said. “This year, we have full competition mats in all of our high schools and all of our middle schools. And more of our squads are entering competitions outside of ours. Last year, for the first time we had three teams qualify for the state [cheerleading] meet – Douglass, Grady and Mays. It’s a great opportunity for our student-athletes.”