More than 90 teams expected to compete in the annual WIAA event
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
Battle Ground is ready to cheer, loud and proud.
Battle Ground will tumble, too. There will be handsprings and jumps, as well.
For years, Battle Ground High School has been home to one of the biggest WIAA events of the academic year.
The State Cheerleading competition is Friday and Saturday at Battle Ground. More than 90 schools, with many squads competing in more than one category, are scheduled to perform.
It is pretty much non-stop action from 5 p.m. until 10:45 p.m. on Friday, then from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday.
“I am just very excited to showcase the high school, our great facility, and have that many teams competing,” said Trevor Person, the athletic director at Battle Ground High School.
Beyond the school, the entire region benefits, too.
“By hosting the event, they will bring in thousands of people to the community who will buy meals, buy gas, and have a big impact on that community,” said Mick Hoffman, executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. “That gym will be packed. Last year, we had standing room only.”
That gym will be clean, too.
Person said the entire school supports the event, and the Tigers like showing off their school.
This is Person’s first year as AD at the school, which means it is his first year trying to manage this chaos called cheer.
“I’ve been surrounded by a great team that has guided me through it,” Person said.
He has been in contact with former ADs Matt Stanfill and Kirsten Talbott, who ran the event in previous years.
Hannah Dollar, the athletics secretary at the school, has been instrumental in planning. She is a former cheerleader at Washington State University and a Battle Ground alum.
Jamie Munafo, an ASP secretary at the school, has also been a key contributor to the event.
Then there is the school’s head custodian, Brad Tuchardt. Person said Tuchardt hand washes and cleans the bleachers, every seat, making sure it is in tip-top shape.
“There are more moving parts than I anticipated,” Person said. “When you have a great team around you, it makes things easier.”
In all, 96 teams from across the state are set to compete. That includes the home team, too. Battle Ground qualified in its category.
“They don’t have as long of a commute,” Person said with a laugh.
An all-tournament pass is $22 for adults, $16 for students and senior citizens and military. A single day ticket is $12 and $9.
For tickets, and to see a list of all qualifying teams, go to the Cheer Tournament Page on the WIAA’s site at: https://www.wiaa.com/tournament-xch/?sportid=22
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