BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford and Union County high schools, with fourth- and 10th-place finishes, respectively, both earned the right to advance to the Class 1 A state cheerleading semifinals after their performances at the Jan. 27 Region 1 meet in Port St. Joe.
Both teams compete in the Medium Non-Tumbling division and will compete at state on Saturday, Feb. 3, at R.P. Funding Center in Lakeland. Bradford is scheduled to perform at 1 p.m., while Union is scheduled to perform at 1:24 p.m.
The Tornadoes had a raw score of 66.5 and, factoring in point deductions, a final score of 63.5, which tied them with Interlachen. That placed Bradford behind West Nassau (87.7 raw score, 86.7 final score), Orange Park (67.1, 67.1) and Parker (64.2, 63.7).
Bradford’s raw score was three points higher than Interlachen’s.
A state send-off will be held at the BHS gym on Friday, Feb. 2, at 4 p.m. This free event is a chance for people to watch the team’s routine.
The Tigers had a raw score of 61.6 and a final score of 56.6.
Placing sixth through ninth ahead of Union were Milton (58.3, 58.3), Newberry (61.6, 58.1), Williston (58.9, 57.9) and Fort White (59.2, 57.2).
Raw scores were used to determine who advanced to state. West Nassau, as the district champ, will automatically be placed in the finals round at state.
Advancing to the semifinal round besides Bradford and Union are Orange Park, Parker, Interlachen, Newberry and 11th-place finisher Rickards (62.4, 56.4).
