Tri-Village Lady Patriots claim third straight grand championship

Cheerleading competition also honors the memory of longtime cheer coach Ericka Kramer

August 21, 2026

Tri-Village Varsity Grand Champion — Tri-Village varsity wins third consecutive Darke County Fair Cheer Competition. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

GREENVILLE — The Tri-Village Lady Patriots continued their winning tradition at the Great Darke County Fair, capturing the Overall Grand Championship trophy at the annual Darke County Fair Cheerleading Contest for the third consecutive year.

The competition was held Friday in front of a large crowd of family members, friends and fans in the fairgrounds grandstand, where cheerleading teams from across Darke County showcased routines they had spent much of the summer preparing.

Danielle Bourne, one of the co-chairs of the Darke County Fair Cheerleading Competition, said the annual event gives local cheerleaders an opportunity to demonstrate their hard work in front of the community.

“I think it went very well,” Bourne said. “I love Darke County Fair competition day. I love watching all the teams compete and showing all the hard work that they put in all summer. I feel like today was a success for Darke County.”

While the competition included plenty of excitement and celebration, it also carried special meaning for the Darke County cheerleading community as participants remembered Ericka Kramer, a longtime coach and supporter of local cheerleading who recently passed.

Bourne, a close friend of Kramer, delivered a memorial tribute during the competition.

“Ericka is so missed,” Bourne said. “She just was such a pillar in our cheer family, and she always wanted what was best for all teams, not just hers.”

Bourne said honoring Kramer in front of the cheerleaders, coaches and families who knew her was emotional but important.

“Today I was glad to give that memorial and remembrance for her,” Bourne said. “I hope our cheer community felt that because today I know it wasn’t easy for us.”

Kramer’s influence continues through the cheerleading program she helped build. Bourne said new coach Lexi is working to continue the foundation and values Kramer established.

“She had built an amazing program, and the new coach Lexi is really working hard to keep those values at the core,” Bourne said.

The tribute added an emotional element to a day otherwise filled with competition, school spirit and support from the grandstand.

For the Tri-Village Lady Patriots, the competition ended with another major accomplishment as they took home the Overall Grand Championship for the third year in a row.

Bourne said that while trophies were presented to the day’s top finishers, she was impressed by the effort shown by every squad that competed.

“I’m proud of all the teams,” Bourne said. “They just all work so hard.”

The annual competition remains a popular opening-Friday tradition at the Great Darke County Fair, bringing together cheerleaders from throughout the county for a day that celebrates competition, teamwork and the dedication required to prepare for their moment in front of the grandstand crowd.

GREAT DARKE COUNTY FAIR 2025 CHEERLEADING RESULTS

YOUTH CHEER CHAMPIONS

1st Tri-Village
2nd Ansonia Tiger Cubs
3rd Darke County Elite