Wolf Point Cheerleaders To Attend Great Northern Championships

Wolf Point will be represented at the state level in April when the Wolves’ cheerleaders compete at the Great Northern Cheer and Dance Championships in Helena on April 9.

Advisor Nellie Garfield said it’s an exciting time for the program because Wolf Point High School’s cheerleaders haven’t been to the competition in about 10 years.

“The girls are excited and nervous,” Garfield said.

She and Nicole Miller coached a group of All-Stars who took first at the event about seven years ago in the 7-12 age division.

Jami Beston is the lone senior on Wolf Point’s nine-member cheerleading squad. Other cheerleaders include Julianna Garfield, Rebekah Landsrud, Joclynn Williams, Audriana Four Bear, Kaleah White Bear, Jessa Sandau, Arianna Mee and Mersadies Sutton.

The girls will perform a two and a half minute routine at the competition. They will be judged in such areas as precision, floor usage, stunting and pyramids. They will participate against other Class B size schools.

Wolf Point’s girls have been practicing their routine since the middle of January. Once spring sports started, the girls began meeting after track and tennis practices were done.

“They are very talented,” Garfield said of the squad’s members.

Because the event is outside of school activities, the cheerleaders have been relying on fundraisers and support from their families to pay for expenses.

In addition, Wolf Point placed seventh in the United Cheerleaders Association’s virtual “Game Day” competition this school year. They competed against other squads from Montana as well as from Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.

“Next year, we’re going to make it to nationals,” Garfield predicted.

Despite being a young team, Garfield said it’s been a very successful year as the girls supported the football, volleyball and basketball teams. She’s is hopeful of increasing the amount of cheerleaders next fall.

“I’m very proud of them. Five haven’t cheered before ever,” Garfield said. “They started from scratch and we improved from the ground up.”