EATONTON, Ga. — With a growing program in competition cheerleading, Putnam County High has a new tradition to add excitement to the fall season. On Friday, the cheerleaders under the leadership of coach April Smith put on the War Eagle Spirit Spectacular giving teams a chance to perform their routines and prepare for the important state qualifiers.

Winning teams from Saturday include John Milledge Academy in Class A, Rockmart in Class AA, West Laurens High in Class AAAA, Jones County High in Class AAAAA and Veterans High in Class AAAAAA. Schools traveled from as far away as Ware County to be part of the Spirit Spectacular, and other visitors were Perry High, Franklin County High, Dodge County High, Hampton High, Starr’s Mill, Lincoln County, Jefferson County High and Baldwin High.

“Everybody did such a great job,” said Smith, whose War Eagle team has won 11 region championships going back to 2003. “We’re midseason and everyone seems to be progressing like they should. There were a couple of teams with a few injuries, so we hope everybody gets back and healthy before region on Nov. 5.”

As for Putnam’s own season, Smith said it’s been consistent. They have gone to Starr’s Mill and Walnut Grove.

“That’s what we look for, consistency,” she said. “The next thing we’d like to do is see our score go up and would like to go to the next level before region.”

Putnam’s score Saturday was 61.5. The highest of the Spirit Spectacular was West Laurens at 97. It is possible to score over 100.

Smith also used her home meet to honor the senior class.

“This team really glued together very well. They are very cohesive, get along great,” the coach said. “This is a neat group of seniors because they bond very well with the other girls. They’re great leaders.”

The War Eagles also remember last season. Competition cheerleading’s schedule the last two seasons has been shuffled, and in 2021 there were actually two state championships held. For the 2020-21 school year, which took place in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, the finals moved from the fall to the spring. Things returned to the normal routine for 2021-22 with the finals held in November.

Putnam County was part of the spring ’21 gathering at the Macon Centreplex (the meet formally held in Columbus), and in the ensuing fall the War Eagles hosted a Class AA qualifier where all but one team would advance to state. Putnam, unfortunately, was that one team.

“It was a disappointment, but sometimes we learn,” said Smith. “We all learn, including the coach. I think we grew from it.”

On that Nov. 5 date, Putnam County High is hosting all of the AA teams looking to return to Macon, the state finals set for Nov. 11-12. The sectional will be split into two sessions, four regions per session.

“Our community is so supportive of this tournament,” said Smith about the Spirit Spectacular. “Our principal, administrators at the board office, everybody from technology do such a wonderful job helping me with this tournament. I couldn’t do it without any of them.”