Two things are for certain in early November each year. Calhoun's cheerleaders will be in Columbus, and they'll bring home a big trophy.

"We are so excited. It was our time again. I'm very, very proud of them," Calhoun coach Ginger Reeves said moments after the Jackets won the state title. "It's amazing that we're both the region champs and the state champs."

For the third time in the last four years, Calhoun stung the rest of the AA field at the Columbus Civic Center, grabbing the state crown. The Jackets previously won titles in 2006 and 2007. The lone exception was last year's runner-up finish to Region 7-AA rival Coosa.

"This is just a great group of girls," Reeves said. "The seniors have now won three state titles, and that's special."

Pepperell returning to the state finals after missing out on the trip to Columbus last year, grabbed its third second place finish over the last four years. The Dragons actually tied with Pierce County but won out on a tiebreaker.

The Dragons had advanced to Saturday's finals by winning the sectionals competition on Friday morning.

The runner-up spot is familiar to the Dragons. Pepperell's cheer squads have finished as runner-up in state in 2006 and 2007, both times finishing one spot behind Calhoun.

Armuchee, which finished second in Friday's AA sectionals to move into the finals, suffered a tough setback in its routine. About thirty seconds in, an Armuchee cheerleader went down with an injury and was unable to get back to her feet.

Per Georgia High School Association rules, Armuchee was allowed to redo the routine, but the Indians didn't place in the top six.

Rockmart, the fourth and final member of Region 7-AA to reach the state finals, also didn't place in the top six.

This marks the fourth straight year teams from Region 7-AA have finished first and second at the state finals.

"Our region has got to be the hardest in the state," Reeves said. "When you look at the teams in there with Pepperell, Coosa, Model, Armuchee, Sonoraville, Rockmart and others, it's just really tough."

Reeves believes more region teams could place in state except the GHSA only allows the top four teams from each region to advance.

"If we (region teams) could all be out here, I think we would all do well," she said. "It's very difficult to get this far. I'm proud of all of our region teams."

In the Class A competition, Trion, the two-time defending champion, finished fourth. The Bulldogs placed just behind Brookstone. Commerce finished first overall with Bremen, Trion's 6-A rival, taking second place.

In the Class AAA competition, Cedartown finished just off of the podium in fifth. John's Creek won the AAA title.

Cedartown had advanced to the state finals by placing third in the Class AAA sectionals on Friday morning.

Woodland high school's team grabbed a third-place finish in the Class AAAA competition.

Rome High's coed team didn't place in the top six.

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