Bartram Trail has been named the ITG Next 2022 Northeast Florida Cheer Team of the Year, presented by Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Baptist Health, and the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute.
Bartram Trail is coached by Danielle Parker, who was also a Bears cheerleader in high school. She began her head coaching career at Bartram Trail in 2012. Parker led the team to the FHSAA Class 2A large division state championship in 2015.
When Parker took over, she said the former head coach literally gave her a state championship quality team. But, as a first-year head coach, she really didn’t know what to expect, and the team came up short of the state championship. It took about three years before both Parker and the team finally reached their maximum potential.
The team also won the state championship in 2008, 2017, 2020, 2021, and, most recently, 2022. The Bears cheer squad is the first ever sports team at Bartram Trail High School to pull off a three-peat.
“A lot of times cheer is not respected, so to be able to win at the state level – which is something that every sport in the state of Florida has the opportunity to get to – makes it a big deal,” said Parker.
Bartram Trail scored 83.70 points to finish right ahead of Wellington in the 2022 2A state championship. The Bears scored 2.20 points higher than their 2021 state championship winning score, which was 81.50.
Parker said that they were surprised and excited about their 2022 win as their performance was certainly not perfect. But, according to PArker, they had an unmatched level of difficulty in their routine, specifically in their stunts, that propelled them past the competition. Bartram cheer, as a whole, has become known for their successful stunting sections.
“It was not the perfect performance we were hoping for, but we have a very difficult routine, and that difficulty carried us this year,” said Parker.
Parker said she appreciates the chemistry and love that the cheerleaders share amongst themselves, especially when getting ready for a state championship.
“They just love each other; they come together when it’s really needed,” she said. “It doesn’t mean you always get along, but they come together when it matters, and that is what makes them great.”
The winning tradition remains strong with the Bears cheerleading squad. and Parker looks for their future seasons to only get better.
Written by: Kennedie Weems
