Wildcat Competitive Spirit Team Makes History With Fifth Place Overall Finish At District Nine Championships, Earns Ticket To States
Photos courtesy Central Clarion Wildcat Competitive Spirit – PIAA State Championship Qualifiers: Bottom row (L-R) – Avery Bunch, Teagan Spangler, Kayla Carlson, Hailey Merryman, Addison Owen, Amelia Jewell, Abby Felmlee, and Samantha Patton; Middle row (L-R) – Grace Reinsel, Jeliza Childs, Ryli Girt, Willow Foust, Markie Raybuck, Calyssa Hartle, and Lilly Shirey; Back row (L-R) – Assistant Coach Mabelle Reed and Head Coach Ashley Parker
As is the case when any sports program begins, this season is one of historic firsts for the newly formed Central Clarion Wildcats Competitive Spirit Team.
The Wildcat Competitive Spirit Team, emerged as its own entity this fall, from the Central Clarion Wildcats Football Cheer Squad. These young ladies and their coaches Ashley Parker and Mabelle Reed, are making memories they will cherish for the rest of their lives.
The Competitive Cheer Team is open to athletes from Clarion-Limestone, Clarion Area and North Clarion.
On Saturday, December 20th, the Wildcats made their first ever appearance in the District Nine Competitive Spirit Championships, which were held at DuBois Area High School.
The Wildcats had another program first, earning a trip to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State Championships, which will be held in the First Summit Arena at the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown (which has a capacity of roughly 4,000), on Friday and Saturday January 9th and 10th.
The Wildcats competed in the 2A Small School Division and finished in fifth place overall among all the Divisions, with six teams moving on.
The four squads winning championships move on as well as the next two top point scorers.
The championship winners were Karns City, the 2A Large School Champion; Elk County Catholic, the 2A Small School Champion; DuBois, the 3A Small School Champion; and A-C Valley, the Co-Ed Champion. They will be joined by the Wildcats and 3A Small School, Punxsutawney.
Coach Parker shared about some of the hurdles the Wildcats had to overcome to make this possible and the athletes’ great attitude through it all.
“All the odds were against us, first year ever, none of the girls have ever competed before, we only had two mats, and we got our music and routine just a little over a month before our first competition due to waiting for approval to start the program but the girls pulled through.
“They worked hard and never stopped believing in themselves.”
“I am beyond proud of every single one of them girls!
“I am so excited to see what next year has to bring and to keep building the program up!”
A number of folks have done background work, which may go unnoticed by many, to make this all possible and this certainly in not lost on Coach Parker and the team.
Coach Parker shared special thanks and shout-outs to some key individuals.
“A huge thanks to Amber Kimmel and Becky Degraaf for choreographing our routine.
“Another thanks to Amber Kimmel for constantly checking in on the girls, giving lots of advice, and for building the girls confidence when they struggled! We would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for them!”
Earlier in the fall, Central Clarion recorded two other historic firsts for the program.
The Wildcats competed in their first ever competition, Elk County Catholic Cheer Frenzy 2025 and emerged with their first ever trophy, taking second place in their division.
(Fantastic work in this historic first season, Wildcats!!!! Continue to make forever memories at States!!!!)