New Bainbridge High School varsity football and competition cheerleading coach Lea Hawkins and her squad conducted a clinic Monday through Wednesday at the Decatur County Memorial Coliseum.

The BHS cheerleaders led Bainbridge Leisure Services’ annual Bainbridge Leisure Services Department cheerleading clinic for young girls who may someday aspire to be cheerleaders themselves.

Coach Hawkins was named to her position recently by Decatur County School System athletic director Stan Killough.

Also taking part in the clinic instruction were members of Coach Jessica McClendon’s Bearcats junior varsity cheerleading squad. McClendon is a special education teacher at Elcan King Elementary. The Bainbridge Middle School cheerleading coach is Gina Conley.

Coach Hawkins succeeds Sheri Dunn-Ulm, who she cheered under as a varsity squad captain in 1991 and 1992. Hawkins is married to former Bearcats football player Trey Hawkins and she has taught dance at Murkerson Dance Academy and Gymnastics Cheer Gym.

Eighty-two 4-to-10-year-old girls attended the clinic where the cheerleaders taught them popular Bearcats cheers, chants and dances.

The cheerleaders were joined at the clinic by their two mascots, Buddy Bearcat and new this year, Bella Bearcat.

On Wednesday, the cheerleaders led those attending the clinic in some cheers, chants and dance routines for their parents and families.

Varsity cheerleaders taking part in the clinic instruction included senior captain Michael Jones, junior co-captain Searcy Smith, seniors Morgan Rogers and Charlton Reynolds and juniors Maddie McIntosh, Jalyn Harris, Katie Faythe Roland and Erin Kirkus.

Sophomore varsity instructors were Hannah Bius, Emma Kate Smith, Anna Lee Wiggins, Holly Long and Kay Bush.

Freshmen varsity instructors were Anna Beth Bowles, Malasia-Ali-Taylor, Raylyn Willis, Sarah Margaret Enfinger and Takari Murphy.

Junior varsity cheerleaders taking part in the instruction were captain Stephanie Mayfield, co-captain Jamania Washington, Kiemyatta Jones, Andrecia Jackson, Erin Caplain, Abbie Jones, Larsyn Duke, Aaliyah Mitchell and Madison Hughes.