–News Picture Story 1st Place: Griffin Moores/The News-Leader– “Cheer” Waynesboro High School’s Sonny Carey stretches her arms on the ground in preparation for the team’s cheerleading state championship performance in Richmond on Nov. 8, 2014.

With emotions running high and the weight of an entire season riding on their shoulders, the annual cheerleading competition brings dozens of teams from around Virginia together to compete for the state championship.