By Thomas Grant Jr.
There will be only one varsity competitive cheer team in Lexington School District Two this fall.
After two appeals before the South Carolina High School League, Airport High School was allowed to combine with Brookland-Cayce High School to form one Class 4A team in the sport.
The two Lexington County schools sought this arrangement after Brookland-Cayce found out it would be unable to field a Class 3A competitive cheer team for the 2023-24 school year. The reasons cited by school principal Barry Bolen were graduation, transfers, and the departure of its competitive cheer coach.
The Class 4A classification voted down the request, prompting a May 22 appeal hearing before the SCHSL Executive Committee. Principal Matt Schilit of Airport spoke at the hearing along with Bolen and District Superintendent Brenda Hafner via remote.
All three parties made it clear this was a temporary situation as Brookland-Cayce expects to field a team for the following school year. Schilit also made it clear Airport wanted to remain in Class 4A, and the combining teams would involve just the two Brookland-Cayce students.
Nevertheless, the Executive Committee voted 10-2 to deny the request. It did, however, approve in the same vote to allow the schools to combine if it moved up to Class 5A.
This decision was based on SCHSL’s by-laws. It stated if the combined population of the two schools that combine for a sport is greater than the largest school in that classification, then it must move up to the next higher classification.
Rather than accept the decision, the Lexington Two officials opted for a final appeal with the 6-person S.C. High School League Appellate Panel. It took place four days later when Schilit presented the same argument with one of the Brookland-Cayce students speaking in attendance.
Rising junior Allison Allen told the panel about cheering for the Lady Bearcats since seventh grade. She talked about going from an “up” year in placing in the top five of the Class 3A final to the “down” period she’s experiencing with not having an opportunity to have a “last one, best one” year.
For Allen, cheering for her school in other sports is not the only way she wants to finish her high school career.
“I’m not wishing to give Airport a competitive advantage,” Allen said. “I simply want to be able to run out and perform and compete for a state championship just like any other student-athlete in this state.”
Allen found a supportive ear in members of the panel, with Otis Rawl describing the two Brookland-Cayce students as “lost souls” with no team at their school. In the end, the panel voted 4-2 to allow the combined teams in Lexington School District Two.
The Airport High School cheer team. Photo by Thomas Grant Jr.
