The Auburn High School Bulldog cheerleaders are the 2012 champions of the Class C nonbuilding/nontumbling large group cheer competition.
The competition was Saturday afternoon, Feb. 18,  during the Nebraska Coaches Association Cheer and Dance Championships.

Competition was held at the Heartland Events Center, Grand Island.

In 2010 and 2011, the Auburn cheerleaders were runners-up in the Class C nonbuilding nontumbling division. In 2011, the Bulldog cheerleaders were also fifth in Class C sideline.
“I have 13 cheerleaders who competed this year,” said Joellen Hamann, Auburn High School cheerleading sponsor.
Seniors are Nikki Chubick, Wendy Teten, Amanda Butler and Hannah Wilson. Juniors are Tierra Williams, Haevyn Hug and Kaitlin Dauel.  Sophomores are Madison Anderson and Hannah Brown. Freshmen are Alyssa Borrel, Paige Henkel, Emily Knipe and Kelsey Huffman.
“It is the first time we have beaten Cozad since we last won state in 2009. It was an awesome routine choreographed by Iowa Western’s cheerleading coach, Jeff Snow. We loved the routine from the minute we learned it,” Hamann said.
“The girls worked so hard to perfect it and to make it of full entertainment value. We overcame a great deal of obstacles this year. I am so proud of them for coming together and pulling through when they needed to the most. I have a solid group of seniors. Three of them were freshmen when we last won state, so it is exciting for them to begin their cheerleading career and end their cheerleading careers with state titles. Every year we strive to be better then the last year. I am so proud of my girls for pulling together to accomplish that goal,” Hamann said.
“We are proud to be Auburn Bulldogs!!!!,” she concluded.
Cozad finished second in the large group nonbuilding/nontumbling division. Placing third through seventh, respectively, were Lincoln Christian, Fort Calhoun, Columbus Scotus, Arlington and Central City.
The championship is sponsored by the Nebraska Coaches Association and the Nebraska State Athletic Administrators Association.
Other Southeast Nebraska high school cheerleading squads also participated in the Class C competition.
Falls City won the sideline large group cheer competition.
Johnson County Central cheerleaders ranked third in the sideline small group cheer competition; sixth in the nonbuilding/nontumbling small group cheer competition and won the Class C spirit award.
Palmyra cheerleaders ranked ninth in sideline small group cheer competition and seventh in nonbuilding/nontumbling small group cheer competition.