North Gwinnett News

North Gwinnett High School's Game Day Cheer Team has claimed the 2024 Georgia High School Association (GHSA) AAAAAA State Championship. This victory marks their second title in three years, with a previous win in 2022.

Head coach Tabatha Johnson expressed her pride in the team. “When you are competing in the highest classification, it is always a challenge to win. The competition in this division is always tough, and you just never know what the judges are looking for,” she stated. Johnson highlighted several challenges faced by the team, including illness and injury before the state meet, as well as a music mishap during preliminaries. Despite these setbacks, she noted that "they were determined to come out on top and win it all."

Game Day Cheer competitions showcase teams' abilities to lead crowds and create an energetic atmosphere through routines that include chants, cheers, band dances, and fight songs. Johnson described winning at North Gwinnett High as particularly rewarding due to her personal connection to the school: “Words can't describe how it feels to be able to win a state championship for your Alma mater. I have so much pride being a North Gwinnett grad... Being able to win numerous state championships is just icing on the cake.”

Since GHSA introduced the Game Day state meet seven years ago, North Gwinnett High has secured four state championships along with two runner-up finishes and one fifth-place ranking.

The current team includes seniors who were part of the last championship team in 2022: Addy Moity, Alivia Ponzio, Emma Kate Perkins, and Olivia Bak. This year's squad also features seven first-year students among others across different grade levels.

Johnson co-coached this year’s team alongside Kelly Halcomb and Emily Troughton.