Just two months ago, the Class 5A competitive cheer final ended with three Chronicle Country teams finishing atop the standings. 

Lexington claimed its third state title victory, while River Bluff came away with the runner-up trophy. 

As both teams celebrated their accomplishment Nov. 19 at Columbia’s Colonial Life Arena, third-place Chapin had questions about the final decision. The then-defending champions learned they were penalized for performing over the allotted time allowed. 

This resulted in the Lady Eagles receiving a deduction of points they believe kept them from placing in the top two of the standings. The final total had Lexington first with 341.5 points, with River Bluff separated by 3.5 points from Chapin with 339.5 points.  

Chapin decided to challenge that result.

Having filed an appeal with the S.C. High School League days after the final, the team had its case heard by the Executive Committee on Jan. 12. Coaches Vicki and Billie Williams, Principal Michael Ames andAnna Miller, Lexington/Richland School District Five Chief of Academics and Administration made the appeal.

Following the presentation, the committee voted 10-6 to uphold the judges’ decision. 

Commissioner Jerome Singleton said the committee believed the process followed was adequate. Because of league rules regarding replay, Singleton added the committee could not use video to review whether the infraction took place. 

Chapin will now make its final appeal Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. before the Appellate Panel at the league office. The six-member panel consists of Otis Rawl (Second Congressional District), Bill McCall (First Congressional District), Andy Twelto (Third Congressional District), Bob Davis (Fourth Congressional District), Jackie Queen (Fifth Congressional District) and Raleigh King (Sixth Congressional District).

The meeting will be made available to the public at nfhsnetwork.com/events/schsl. 

If Chapin wins the appeal, it would claim its sixth state runner-up trophy to go with a state-record 16 championships won in four classifications. 

Amanda Taylor, the school district’s director of communications, shared a statement with the Chronicle stating that “due to the ongoing nature of the appeal process, School District 5 and Chapin High School will be unable to comment until completion of all appeals.”

In other Chapin-related news, Vicki Williams was named as one of the five newest members of the 2023 Chapin Athletic Hall of Fame. Joining her are baseball coach Scott McLeod, former boys basketball coach John Goodale, Billy Amick and Jeremy Plexico. 

The date and location of the enshrinement banquet will be provided later.