An estimated 250 girls, ages 5-14, traveled to Benson from all over Cochise County on Nov. 3 to compete in the Southern Arizona Youth Cheer League event which took place at Benson High School gym.

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Teams from Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Sierra Vista, and Willcox competed in the four hour event.

Each squad had two and half minutes to perform a cheer and dance routine for three judges.

They were judged on execution, facial expressions, tumbling and stunting.

Out of the four Douglas Chargers Cheerleader squads three of them took first place with the fourth taking second.

In the Flag Division there were two divisions: small and large.

The small division Benson came in first, Douglas was second and the Sierra Vista Colts third.

In the flag large division Willcox came in first and the Sierra Vista Cardinals came in second.

The Mitey Mite Division there was three divisions small, medium and larger.

In the mitey mite small division the Sierra Vista Cardinals came in first and the Sierra Vista Eagles came in second.

In the mitey mite medium division first place went to the Sierra Vista Colts, second place went to Benson and Bisbee came in third.

The mitey mite larger division, Douglas won first and Willcox came in second with only four point’s difference.

In the Midget and Peewee white division the Sierra Vista Colts Peewee team came in first. Willcox midget also came in first.

In the Midget and Peewee Red Division’s four peewee squads competed with Douglas coming in first, second went to Bisbee, third Willcox and Sierra Vista Raiders got fourth. Benson’s midget team came in first.

In the Midget and Peewee Blue Division’s three squads competed. The Sierra Vista Cardinals peewee squad came in first. In the midget blue division Douglas came in first with second going to the Sierra Vista Colts.

This years Spirit Award went to the hosting team Benson.

The Douglas Chargers football players and cheerleaders will be honored at their year end awards and banquet which is scheduled for Nov. 10 from 4-8 p.m., at the American Legion on G Ave.

Families are asked to bring their favorite pot luck dish. Cheerleaders are asked to bring their uniforms.

Trophies will be handed out that day to those who attend the banquet.