TOPEKA, Kan. - The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) in conjunction with Varsity Spirit will conduct the second annual KSHSAA Spirit Game Day Showcase, November 17th at the Kansas Expocentre. Ninety-two cheer squads from throughout the state are expected to compete in 2018.

The 2018 KSHSAA Game Day Spirit Showcase Competition will be an exciting event for KSHSAA member school cheer squads to perform and compete with other school cheer squads from within their classification. The Varsity Spirit “Game Day” format was chosen by the KSHSAA as a way to exemplify cheerleading in 21st century high schools. The exhilaration of leading a crowd through sideline cheer is what the competition demonstrates. In preparing for the showcase, cheer squads will improve their sideline skills, safety techniques, and leadership abilities. These practices validate the importance of an outstanding high school cheerleading squad.

“The K-S-H-S-A-A is pleased to partner with Varsity Spirit to host our second annual Game Day Spirit Showcase. We are excited that these outstanding students will be able to represent their school communities as the cheer squads perform on the state stage,” said Bill Faflick, KSHSAA Executive Director.

Last year marked a ground breaking year for cheer squads in Kansas with the inaugural showcase competition. A full day at the Expocentre rewarded 87 cheer squads with the opportunity to compete for the first time in a statewide competition. This year, 92 teams will put their hard work on display: Showcase Field

Eighty-seven have entered into the showcase on a first come, first serve basis with representation from all six current classifications. Find a full list of schools here: Showcase Field

Last year’s finalist winners:

6AOverland Park-Blue Valley

5A: Shawnee Heights

4A: Osawatomie

3A: Cheney

2A: Ellis

1A: Coldwater-South Central

A full Saturday of competition will begin at 8:30 AM. Cheer squads will complete three different categories in the preliminary rounds: Crowd Leading, Fight Song and Band Chant. Judges will then determine which squads will move to the finals to complete where each team will showcase its best sideline and crowd leading material in a game day presentation that will include an announcer-led situational game day element. A full schedule can be found here: Showcase Schedule

Those unfamiliar with the Game Day format can watch a highlight video last year’s competition: 2017 Highlights

Tickets, parking, schedules and other event information can be found here: Event Information

 Media Information

KSHSAA approved media are permitted into the event by checking into the ‘site notification’ under the affiliate account along with their year-long media credential.

School media will follow the same guidelines as all other postseason championship sites. Two credentials per school will be allowed to take pictures and other media related tasks after purchasing a ticket.

About Varsity Spirit

Since its founding in 1974 by Jeff Webb, Varsity has been the driving force in making cheerleading the dynamic, athletic, high profile activity it is today. By combining high energy entertainment with traditional school leadership, Webb and his organization have driven the development of an international phenomenon that now not only includes millions of young Americans, but also a rapidly growing number of participants worldwide.