SIOUX FALLS — The South Dakota Cheer Coaches Associaton presented 14 area athletes with Athletic All-State recognition during the SDHSAA State Competitive Cheer & Dance Competition at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on Oct. 20-21.

To be eligible, an athlete must be a great leader, strive for great technique, have selfless dedication, cooperate with all teammates, accept constructive criticism, display enthusiasm, energy and spirit throughout the competitions, work to hold academics high and uphold high personal standards in and out of school and be the most valuable athlete in several areas of cheer.

In Class A, 14 area athletes were honored from Deubrook Area, Elkton Lake Benton, Iroquois/Lake Preston and Sioux Valley.

Sioux Valley had a total of seven athletes recognized on this year’s teams. Jocelyn Peters, Ashlyn Tangen and Ava VandeWeerd were honored as Competitive Cheer Athletic All-State selections while Kalia King, Kendall Schwartz and Abby Ching were honored as Sideline Cheer Athletic All-State selections. Maria Quale and Peters were also honored as Academic All-State selections for the Cossacks.

Elkton-Lake Benton was also heavily represented with a total of six members on this year’s teams. Kayden Thompson, Mavryck Beck and Claudia Campbell were Competitie Cheer Athletic All State selections while Claire McMahon, Rose McMahon and Summer Rochet were Sideline Cheer Athletic All-State selections.

Hadley Prinsen of Deubrook was also honored as a member of the Competitive Cheer Athletic All-State team.