Stephens Co. Recreation Dept. to offer Competitive Cheerleading

The Stephens County Recreation Department recently joined the North Georgia Youth Football Association and with that comes a competitive cheerleading program.

According to Athletic Director Todd Mayfield, all ages of cheerleaders will be competing against other teams in their age groups from different counties as well as cheering at the football games.

Mayfield said that each team and their coach will train with Dana Ott from Rhythm Dance Academy and he believes this will bring in more girls to the cheer program.

“Just combining with Rhythm Academy and giving girls the opportunity that couldn’t afford the All Star cheerleading program that they offer, it gives them the training at an early age that will allow them at a later date to be able to cheer in an All Star group,” said Mayfield. “It really is a big advantage and it’s going to increase our numbers because we lost a lot of girls cheering because they were going to the All Star cheering, but now they can do both.”

Mayfield said that combining with Rhythm Academy is more cost effective for parents.

“The biggest thing is affordability,” said Mayfield. “In the past, all you did was cheer for rec and if you went to Rhythm Academy you paid an additional price to get that training, now it’s all inclusive.”

All activities went up in price since joining this new league, and it costs $70 to cheer, which covers all costs, including the competition.

The dates for cheer competitions are still to be determined.