Cheer for the champs: Kilpatrick Elementary wins county title

Kilpatrick Elementary School coaches Doreen Wilson-Smith (far left) and Amanda Harding (far right) have been with the program from the start. “We have the most diverse group in the county,” Wilson-Smith said of the Cougars. Photo submitted by Harding and Wilson-Smith/The Atlanta Voice A banner in the hallway at Kilpatrick Elementary School in Jonesboro, Ga. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice JONESBORO, Ga. – Walk into Kilpatrick Elementary School and you will immediately notice a trophy case full of pom poms, photos, and a pair of trophies. On a large piece of white paper the words “Grand Champs” are written in blue and red marker. The Kilpatrick Cougars and their faithful recently celebrated the school’s first ever cheerleading championship in March. The cheerleading program, led by coaches Amanada Harding and Doreen Wilson-Smith, has been in existence for just two years. Last season the Cougars finished second in the race for the grand championship. Now they are champions. The county championship is broken up into three divisions: choreography, dance, and original performance. The three scores that Kilptarick amassed, one of which was the highest for original performance, led to their being crowned grand champions. Both coaches took time to talk to...