Chiefettes win Game Day Dance championship

State championships come in pairs at McIntosh High where the Chiefettes won the dance division at the 2023 GHSA Game Day State Championships at Columbus State University on February 24. The Chiefettes share the dance title with Mill Creek High.

More than 50 teams competed in areas used to lead a crowd at a game on “Game Day” at a football or basketball game. Three segments were judged: cheer, band chant, and fight song. This was the second year that dance was included as a division at the Game Day State Championships.

For McIntosh, it was the Chiefettes Spirit Team that won the title.

The Chiefettes Spirit Team consists of 16 members. Olivia Anderson, Sydney Fortner, Izzy Showalter, Maya Thomas, and Abby Newton teamed up with Heather Lee, Sunia Xiao, Elizabeth Stanton, Daisy Fidler, Sarah Wilson, Khami Williams, Sofi Schwartz, Shima Arai, Nina Seymour, Lila Egseiker, and Mady Kuehn.

“Winning a state championship with the Spirit Team was really special because it includes all athletes within the Chiefettes Dance Program,” said coach Carmen Yarbrough.

For the 11 team members who are on both the Spirit and Competition teams, they have won two state championships this year, adding to the Class 5A/6A GHSA State Dance Championship they won earlier in the month.

The Chiefettes Spirit Team performed the school’s fight song, along with a sideline and performance routine, all of which they do on the sidelines of McIntosh football games.

“Being able to win a state championship for the things we do to raise spirit at McIntosh and cheer on the Chiefs is really special,” said Yarbrough. “Our team takes a lot of pride in what they put on the track and field during football season for the fans, so the Game Day State Championship is pretty special!”