By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

HOGANSVILLE – They had a receptive audience.

Last week, dozens of girls participated in the Future Cavs Cheerleading Camp at Callaway High.

The instructors included Callaway cheerleading coach Tricia Turner, as well as most of the girls who will make up her team this fall.

“They spent those hours teaching them to chant, cheer, dance, jump, stunt, tumbling, motion technique,” said Turner, who took over as Callaway’s cheerleading coach during the 2016 season. “The girls spent two days learning the material, and interacting with the girls.”

At the close of the camp, the campers put on a performance and showed how much they’d learned.

“The final day, the little girls went out and presented their material,” Turner said. “Their parents came and watched them.”

Turner said her cheerleaders embraced the opportunity to be teachers instead of students.

“They loved working with the girls, and seeing them come out,” Turner said. “They were really impressed with some of the ability of the little girls.

“They all had a really good time working with each age group.”

Turner said she appreciated the contributions of Kroger, which provided snacks for the camp, as well as P.C. Screen Printing & Sign Company, which donated T-shirts.

Last season, due in part to the coaching change, Callaway didn’t participate in competitive cheerleading.

That will change this fall, and Turner has high hopes.

“Since I’ve had them from the beginning (this season), we are competing, and that’ll get started in the fall,” Turner said. “I’m really optimistic about it. I believe these girls are capable of being region champions.”