Tiffin Middle School seventh- and eighth-graders jumped, danced and clapped their way to a third-place finish in Seneca County Fair's cheerleading contest Saturday.
The fair competition was the first contest Jami Hepp had coached in after being out of coaching for five years.
"I have 14 competing. ... I think they did great for their first time competing," she said.
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PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE
Tiffin Middle School cheerleaders compete in Seneca County Fair’s contest in the entertainment building Saturday.
Chris Bumb, chairwoman of the contest and a director of Seneca County Agricultural Society, said the divisions were midget, junior high, freshman, junior varsity, small varsity and large varsity. She said 23 squads participated in the competition.
"(That's) more than I've ever had," she said.
Tiffin City Schools also was represented by junior varsity cheerleaders, who placed first, and varsity cheerleaders, who placed fourth.
Hepp said the middle school cheerleaders have been practicing twice a week since the beginning of July, and all they have done during the summer is prepare for the fair's competition. They had done well with the heat and practices they have had, she said.
"We went at 8 in the morning," she said.
Hepp said her mother, who died five years ago, coached middle school cheerleading for 20 years. Hepp, whose daughter is on the squad, recalled thinking she never would coach at the middle school level, but she has taken over where her mother once coached.
The cheerleaders are wonderful, she said.
"I loved it," she said. "It's actually refreshing."
Hepp said the cheerleaders also are going to Attica Independent Fair's cheerleading contest next month.
