Liberty County and Bradwell Institute junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders attended a camp at Columbus State last week.

Panther cheerleading coach Kimberly Thompson Brown said the camp was managed by the Universal Cheerleaders Association, a competitive cheerleading organization.

Brown said that each year, Liberty and Bradwell usually attend cheer camp separately.
“Usually Bradwell will go to Georgia Southern for their camp, and we’ve beengoing to Columbus State for five years straight now,” Brown said. “We asked Lisa Jackson-Chaney to come with us this year so that both of our squads could experience it.”

Brown said UCA camps focus on stunts, building pyramids, trick transitions and choreography.
“It’s much more difficult than just sideline cheering or dances,” she said.

Brown said this was the first year that Liberty fielded a junior varsity squad, and it was the first time, in likely quite some time, the two schools attended camp together.
“We all get along,” Brown said. “The girls all know each other and get along, and we work well together.”

She said each day started at 7 a.m. with breakfast and ended each night at 8:30.
“They were exhausted,” Brown said.

She said the camp helped the girls bond as it was the first time they performed as a unit.
“It also helped them to see where we are strong or where we are weak and where we need to improve,” Brown said. “They demonstrate safe ways to perform each stunt and the correct technique.”