Raleigh, NC – Raleigh’s Cardinal Gibbons captured the Carolina Cup in the 13th annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state invitational cheerleading championships at the Raleigh Convention Center on Saturday night.
Cheer Ltd., Inc., the NCHSAA’s corporate partner that assists with the invitational championship, has established the Carolina Cup to recognize annually the top high school varsity cheerleading team in the state. It goes to the varsity-level team that earns the highest cumulative score in the whole competition, regardless of the division in which it competes.
Gibbons recorded 87.4 points in its medium varsity competition, which was the highest score of the entire event, to win the medium varsity in Division 1 and also grab the Carolina Cup. Gibbons is the only school to have earned the Cup three times, having won it in 2007 and ’11.
This was the first year that the competition was classified to a degree. The Division I competition was for 3-A and 4-A squads while the Division 2 competition was for 1-A and 2-A schools.
Asheville Erwin won the large varsity non-tumble in Division 1, and Forbush took top honors in that category in Division 2. South Caldwell was the large varsity Division 1 champ and Davie was the varsity co-ed winner.
A.C. Reynolds was the first-place school in medium varsity non tumble in Division 1
Cherryville took top honors in the small varsity division for Division 2 while Heritage was the Division 1 winner. In the non-tumble category. North Gaston was Division 1 winner with North Carolina School for Science and Math winning in Division 2. Pamlico County was first in the non-building category.
For the medium varsity squads. Northside took top honors for Division 2, Elizabeth City Northeastern for non-tumble in Division 2, and Cardinal Gibbons in Division 1.
A total of 145 teams registered to participate in the event.
Final results: champions are listed, followed by the other competitors in order and point totals in each division.
Division I is for 3-A and 4-A schools, Division 2 for 1-A and 2-A schools. NT= non tumble category.
| Team Name | Final Score | Rank | |
| Small Junior Varsity D2 | Croatan HS | 59.50 | 1 |
| Team Name | Final Score | Rank | |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Cardinal Gibbons HS | 72.40 | 1 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Millbrook HS | 70.90 | 2 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Panther Creek HS | 67.30 | 3 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Holly Springs HS | 64.20 | 4 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Wakefield HS | 61.40 | 5 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Ledford HS | 58.90 | 6 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Cleveland HS | 58.30 | 7 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Apex HS | 58.20 | 8 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Hoggard HS | 49.90 | 9 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Havelock HS | 46.70 | 10 |
| Small Junior Varsity D1 | Knightdale HS | 38.30 | 11 |
| Team Name | Final Score | Rank | |
| Large Junior Varsity D1 | Croatan HS | Croatan HS | 1 |
| Large Junior Varsity D1 | 2 | ||
| Team Name | Final Score | Rank | |
| Small JV NT D2 | West Columbus | 69.60 | 1 |
| Small JV NT D2 | Northside HS | 59.70 | 2 |
| Small JV NT D2 | Camden County HS | 57.80 | 3 |
| Small JV NT D2 | Southwest Edgecombe | 55.90 | 4 |
| Small JV NT D2 | Oxford Prep | 54.70 | 5 |
| Small JV NT D2 | Farmville Central | 45.20 | 6 |
| Team Name | Final Score | Rank | |
| Small JV NT D1 | Pisgah HS | 73.30 | 1 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Lumberton HS | 71.90 | 2 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Eastern Guilford HS | 70.40 | 3 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Purnell Swett HS | 68.70 | 4 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Topsail HS | 66.90 | 5 |
| Small JV NT D1 | South Johnston | 66.90 | 6 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Rocky Mount HS | 65.30 | 7 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Southeast HS | 60.40 | 8 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Fike HS | 59.70 | 9 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Jacksonville HS | 54.70 | 10 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Fuquay Varina HS | 52.60 | 11 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Harnett Central HS | 50.50 | 12 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Smithfield Selma HS | 42.50 | 13 |
| Team Name | Final Score | Rank | |
| Large JV NT | Laney HS | 63.20 | 1 |
| Large JV NT | South Columbus HS | 60.70 | 2 |
| Small JV NT D2 | Camden County HS | 57.80 | 3 |
| Small JV NT D2 | Southwest Edgecombe | 55.90 | 4 |
| Small JV NT D2 | Oxford Prep | 54.70 | 5 |
| Small JV NT D2 | Farmville Central | 45.20 | 6 |
| Team Name | Final Score | Rank | |
| Small JV NT D1 | Pisgah HS | 73.30 | 1 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Lumberton HS | 71.90 | 2 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Eastern Guilford HS | 70.40 | 3 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Purnell Swett HS | 68.70 | 4 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Topsail HS | 66.90 | 5 |
| Small JV NT D1 | South Johnston | 66.90 | 6 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Rocky Mount HS | 65.30 | 7 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Southeast Raleigh HS | 60.40 | 8 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Fike HS | 59.70 | 9 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Jacksonville HS | 54.70 | 10 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Fuquay Varina HS | 52.60 | 11 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Harnett Central HS | 50.50 | 12 |
| Small JV NT D1 | Smithfield Selma HS | 42.50 | 13 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Small Varsity D2 | Cherryville HS | 80.90 | 1 |
| Small Varsity D2 | Maiden HS | 78.40 | 2 |
| Small Varsity D2 | Croatan HS | 58.80 | 3 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Small Varsity D1 | Heritage HS | 75.60 | 1 |
| Small Varsity D1 | Holly Springs HS | 75.40 | 2 |
| Small Varsity D1 | Cox Mill HS | 74.90 | 3 |
| Small Varsity D1 | TC Roberson HS | 73.20 | 4 |
| Small Varsity D1 | Green Hope HS | 69.00 | 5 |
| Small Varsity D1 | Corinth Holders HS | 68.70 | 6 |
| Small Varsity D1 | Fuquay Varina HS | 68.50 | 7 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Small Varsity NT D2 | NCSSM | 69.90 | 1 |
| Small Varsity NT D2 | Bessemer City HS | 55.30 | 2 |
| Small Varsity NT D2 | Princeton HS | 54.60 | 3 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Small Varsity NT D1 | North Gaston HS | 82.30 | 1 |
| Small Varsity NT D1 | Eastern Guilford HS | 78.70 | 2 |
| Small Varsity NT D1 | Ragsdale HS | 76.00 | 3 |
| Small Varsity NT D1 | North Buncombe HS | 73.70 | 4 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Non-Building | Pamlico County HS | 64.50 | 1 |
| Non-Building | Gates County HS | 55.60 | 2 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Medium Varsity D2 | Northside (Jax) HS | 68.50 | 1 |
| Medium Varsity D2 | West Davidson HS | 65.40 | 2 |
| Medium Varsity D2 | Farmville Central HS | 55.40 | 3 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Northeastern HS | 82.50 | 1 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Franklin HS | 77.40 | 2 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | West Stokes HS | 75.80 | 3 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Fairmont HS | 70.80 | 4 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Southwest Edgecombe HS | 70.20 | 5 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | West Stanly HS | 69.50 | 6 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Chase HS | 66.70 | 7 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Southside HS | 65.80 | 8 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Bunn HS | 65.00 | 9 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Beddingfield HS | 64.60 | 10 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | West Columbus HS | 64.30 | 11 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Camden County HS | 63.40 | 12 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | North Rowan HS | 60.60 | 13 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Franklinton HS | 59.00 | 14 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Louisburg HS | 58.10 | 15 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Pender HS | 57.50 | 16 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | North Johnston HS | 56.20 | 17 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Parkwood HS | 54.30 | 18 |
| Medium Varsity NT D2 | Forest Hills HS | 44.10 | 19 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Cardinal Gibbons HS | 87.40 | 1 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Lake Norman HS | 83.40 | 2 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Apex HS | 82.40 | 3 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Broughton HS | 79.50 | 4 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Panther Creek HS | 79.40 | 5 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | DH Conley HS | 70.50 | 6 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Knightdale HS | 69.50 | 7 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Mooresville HS | 68.30 | 8 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Jacksonville HS | 65.90 | 9 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Sanderson HS | 65.80 | 10 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Middle Creek HS | 65.00 | 11 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | White Oak HS | 64.70 | 12 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Havelock HS | 61.80 | 13 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Jack Britt HS | 61.70 | 14 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Apex Friendship HS | 61.50 | 15 |
| Medium Varsity D1A | Laney HS | 50.70 | 16 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Varsity Coed D1 | Davie County HS | 82.10 | 1 |
| Varsity Coed D1 | Leesville Road HS | 79.50 | 2 |
| Varsity Coed D1 | Cleveland HS | 63.40 | 3 |
| Varsity Coed D1 | Southeast HS | 42.50 | 4 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Large Varsity D1 | South Caldwell HS | 81.30 | 1 |
| Large Varsity D1 | Ledford HS | 79.90 | 2 |
| Large Varsity D1 | Charles B. Aycock HS | 73.60 | 3 |
| Large Varsity D1 | Millbrook HS | 73.30 | 4 |
| Large Varsity D1 | Lumberton HS | 69.20 | 5 |
| Large Varsity D1 | New Bern HS | 65.90 | 6 |
| Large Varsity D1 | Overhills HS | 65.10 | 7 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Hough HS | 82.70 | 1 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Hoggard HS | 81.20 | 2 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Porter Ridge HS | 80.00 | 3 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Southern Alamance HS | 74.00 | 4 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Marvin Ridge HS | 73.10 | 5 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Charlotte Catholic HS | 69.30 | 6 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Wakefield HS | 67.00 | 7 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Piedmont HS | 64.80 | 8 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Myers Park HS | 56.00 | 9 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Smithfield-Selma HS | 52.50 | 10 |
| Medium Varsity D1B | Nash Central HS | 42.20 | 11 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | AC Reynolds HS | 83.60 | 1 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | Enka HS | 76.90 | 2 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | Northern Durham HS | 71.90 | 3 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | Topsail HS | 70.10 | 4 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | West Brunswick HS | 69.60 | 5 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | Ashley HS | 69.00 | 6 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | Richlands HS | 66.80 | 7 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | Rocky Mount HS | 65.60 | 8 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | South Johnston HS | 64.30 | 9 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | Fike HS | 60.70 | 10 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | Southern Wayne HS | 60.30 | 11 |
| Medium Varsity NT D1 | Purnell Swett HS | 59.50 | 12 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Large Varsity NT D2 | Forbush HS | 85.90 | 1 |
| Large Varsity NT D2 | Currituck HS | 83.30 | 2 |
| Large Varsity NT D2 | South Lenoir HS | 80.60 | 3 |
| Large Varsity NT D2 | South Columbus HS | 64.40 | 4 |
| Large Varsity NT D2 | Pasquotank HS | 58.90 | 5 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Large Varsity NT D1 | Erwin HS | 84.00 | 1 |
| Large Varsity NT D1 | Pinecrest HS | 79.90 | 2 |
| Large Varsity NT D1 | Tuscola HS | 77.30 | 3 |
| Large Varsity NT D1 | Pisgah HS | 76.70 | 4 |
| Large Varsity NT D1 | Northwest Guilford HS | 73.10 | 5 |
| Large Varsity NT D1 | Western Harnett HS | 64.40 | 6 |
| Division | Team Name | Final Score | Rank |
| Large Varsity D2 | East Duplin HS | 73.2 | 1 |
| CAROLINA CUP WINNER | |||
| Medium Varsity D1A | Cardinal Gibbons HS | 87.4 | |