Cougars earn top county honors

North Putnam flyers Ashlyn Clark (front) and Morgan Christy react to the crowd Thurday night at the Putnam County 4-H Fair cheerleading compeition. The Cougars placed third overall in the varsity division and won the Spirit Award.

GREENCASTLE -- The night belonged to the North Putnam Cougars.

In the 2009 Putnam County 4-H Fair Cheerleading competition, the Cougars earned a third-place finish in the varsity division and their lively and upbeat crowd helped them capture the Spirit Award. North Putnam finished behind first-place Mooresville and second-place Tri-West.

With their third-place finish, North Putnam was also crowned Putnam County champs.

Members of the third-place North Putnam squad are Callie Fehr, Nellie Asher, Cara Stanley, Maya Wilhite, Kayla Ault, Lauren Green, Taylor Bullerdick, Morgan Christy, Altera Harris, Audrey Healey, Sam Surber, Kayla Moore, Caitlin Abdon, Hannah Williamson, Halsey Foltz, Caroline Byrd, Ashlyn Clark and Jenna Holtze.

Greencastle squads captured first in the Freshman and placed second in the Junior Varsity division, behind Brownsburg.

Tiger Cub Miranda Patterson earned Outstanding Cheerleader Award, beating out North Putnam's Callie Fehr and Maya Wilhite. As her name was announced, Patterson was overcome by emotion and mounds of silly string from her Tiger Cub teammates.

The night was also designated "Pretty in Pink", with representatives from each school donning outrageous pink outfits and dancing to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. The capacity crowed helped raise $1,719.27 on the night. North Putnam once again rose to the occasion and was singled out for raising the most funds.