Rock Canyon Cheer and Dance Teams Celebrate Multiple State Titles

Rock Canyon High School's competitive cheer and dance programs capped the 2024 to 2025 season with notable success. The varsity dance team and the junior varsity cheerleading team both won state titles, marking a third straight year of championships for each program. Meanwhile the varsity cheer team and the junior varsity dance team finished as state runner up, contributing to a sweep of top finishes that drew praise from families and community members.

These results matter in Douglas County beyond trophies and photographs. Participation in competitive athletics promotes physical fitness, social connectedness, and emotional resilience for young people. Sustained success like Rock Canyon's often reflects long term investment in coaching, training facilities, and supportive school structures that enable students to balance academics and athletics. At the same time the intensity of competitive seasons raises public health considerations, including injury prevention, mental health supports, and access to qualified athletic trainers.

Local athletic programs vary in resources and medical coverage. Schools with established funding streams can provide routine access to athletic training staff, concussion management protocols, and travel arrangements that reduce stress on families. Smaller programs or those with fewer resources may struggle to meet those same standards, which can deepen inequities across Douglas County and between neighborhoods. The prominence of cheer and dance as predominantly female programs invites attention to equitable funding and the need to ensure girls sports receive the same medical and administrative supports that often accompany high profile traditional sports.

Community recognition for Rock Canyon athletes has been visible in school announcements and social media as families and classmates celebrated the teams. That attention can be a protective factor for adolescent mental health, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment and belonging. At the same time coaches, school leaders, and policymakers must guard against overuse injuries and burnout by prioritizing schedule moderation, preseason conditioning, and access to sports medicine care.

Douglas County school leaders and the school district can draw lessons from the season. Ensuring that every school team has routine access to a certified athletic trainer, consistent concussion protocols, and school based mental health services would protect young athletes and promote equitable opportunities. Investment in transportation and affordable participation fees would broaden access so that more students can benefit from the physical and social health advantages of team sports.

Rock Canyon High School's string of state level achievements is cause for celebration. It is also a reminder that community pride should be matched by policies that safeguard athlete health and expand access so that success on the mat and on the sideline is sustainable and available to all young people across Douglas County.