PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A capacity crowd turned out to the Pikeville College Gym Friday night on the eve of the basketball tournament for the annual cheerleading competition.

After a one-year absence, the cheerleaders from Georgetown College returned to the winner's circle. The squad is coached by Lori Beth Mays. The win was the fourth in the last five years for Georgetown.

Second place went to the University of the Cumberlands, while Pikeville College finished third.

The Mid-South Conference is the only league in the country that gives President's Cup points for cheerleading.

In the co-ed partner stunt competition, the University of the Cumberlands took the title, while the all-girl partner stunt competition went to Georgetown.

Mays was named Coach of the Year in the Mid-South Conference, while Georgetown's Lyndsey Penland, a senior from Jacksonville, Fla., was named the cheerleader of the year.

Also, the Mid-South Conference is in its first year of honoring one student-athlete from each sport as a Champion of Character. The Champions of Character initiative was started by the NAIA, sending the message that off-field activities are the most important aspect of collegiate athletics, and this year, the Mid-South Conference became the first league to embrace the initiative with an honor for every sport.

The recipient for the cheerleading squads this year is Pikeville College senior Shana Bevins.

The following student-athletes are being recognized as Academic All-Conference for their outstanding achievements in the classroom:

• Campbellsville University: Sara Tramble, Mindy McCowan, Ashley Bewley, Alicia Wren
• Pikeville College: Shana Bevins, Chelsea Fields, Erin Robinson, Ashley West, Courtney Wiest, Amanda Sayler
• University of the Cumberlands: Amy Shemwell, Whitney Horn, Debra Iles, Erin White
• Georgetown College: Kimmie Crabtree, Hilary Richardson
• Lindsey Wilson College: Nicole Parks, Ashley Russell, Shaunna Turner, Erin Williams, Sarah Wilson

Finally, the following cheerleaders are All-Conference team members, selected for their leadership on and off the floor, as voted by the coaches:

• ???????Campbellsville University: Junior Alicia Wren and sophomore Ashley Kirtley
• Pikeville College: Senior Shana Bevins and senior Amanda Salyer
• University of the Cumberlands: Senior Amanda Farris and junior Amy Shemwell
• Georgetown College: Freshman Jennifer Flagstad and senior Lyndsey Penland
• Lindsey Wilson College: Seniors Erin Williams and Lindsey Stephens