Kelly Walsh cheer and dance ready to take the big stage at State Spirit Competition

CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Friday will mark an opportunity for high school cheerleaders and dancers from across Wyoming to strut their stuff. The two groups will take center stage at the Ford Wyoming Center for Wyoming’s State Spirit Competition.

“I think the most exciting thing about it is that we get to go out there as a team and show what we can really bring to the table as Trojans,” said Kelly Walsh’s Brook Wilson, a senior on the cheerleading squad.

Kelly Walsh has not won a state title in cheer since 2017 when the school brought home state titles in all three categories. The three are gameday, all-girl and co-ed.

Mariah Parks, another senior on the Trojan team, was optimistic about how her team would perform when asked about Friday’s showcase. “We’ve worked really hard this year, and it’s probably the most exhausted we’ve all been, and so I think our hard work’s really gonna show,” said Parks.

Last year’s Kelly Walsh team finished second in the all-girl competition, which was the first year under Head Coach Ali Kopp.

Trojan Cheerleader Anna Hoyt said she wanted it to be “a challenge” for her crew to win the whole thing and bring back a state title.

“We want the competition to be fierce, so we don’t want to go out there and win it by a landslide,” explained Hoyt. “We want other teams to perform their best, and so that we can perform our best and so that we deserve it when we win.”

While the cheer team will be looking to win at least one of three state titles, the dance team will also be looking for redemption.

The Kelly Walsh dancers finished second in both of the hip-hop and jazz competitions at last year’s State Spirit.

“I just really want to enjoy my last time ever performing on a big stage like this, and I love my team,” said Raquel Miner, a senior captain on the dance team. “I think this year we have the most talent we’ve ever had in my four years.”

Rachel Evenson, Miner’s fellow senior captain on the squad, said she was excited to show everyone what the team has.

“We’re not nervous to lose,” said Evenson. “We’ve lost before. It was hard. We know how it felt, but we’re just hungry for the win now.”

The action is set to begin inside the Ford Wyoming Center at 2:30 p.m. For more information about State Spirit and tickets, visit here.

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