Du Quoin Cheerleaders compete in Mt. Vernon on Saturday

The Du Quoin High School cheerleaders competed in Mt. Vernon on Saturday. The girls did a great job and finished 3rd among some very good competition. Most of all, they are having fun doing it. The girls compete at two different levels, ICCA (Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association) and IHSA. ICCA hosts invitational competitions where teams qualify for championships on January 9. IHSA hosts a sectional, where top five teams advance to prelims and finals. ICCA championships are held in Springfield, IHSA in Bloomington.The team has competed at Waterloo High School, Benton High School, Highland high School. The DHS cheerleaders qualified at Highland competition. The girls have placed in every invitational-trophies read, 2nd place, 3rd place, 5th place, and 4th place. The squad members are Mercedes Day, Quinn Kirkpatrick, Haley Kuhnert, McLain Baker, Avery Shivley, Skye Westerhouse, Madison Davis, Molly Dearmond and Hannah Kirby. Competition season is the same as basketball season. Many times, the girls compete in the mornings and come back for a game in the evening.