BRIDGEPORT – The Bulldogs are celebrating some champions this school year.
Bridgeport High School’s cheerleaders won at the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Feb. 1 for the first time in the district’s history, and eighth grader Brett Kuprowicz earned first place at the Belmont County Spelling Bee Feb. 13. Kuprowicz will go on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee May 27-29
The Bridgeport Exempted Village School District Board of Education recognized both on Feb. 19. High School Cheer Coach Kaylynn Yates commended her cheerleaders for their hard work.
Superintendent Brent Ripley said their win was a moment to remember.
“It’s fantastic. I saw you perform. You were really great,” he said. “Justice was done at the OVACs. I was excited for you when I heard that.”
Board member Karrie Puskas also complimented their performance and recalled the excitement of their moment of victory.
“You always do a fantastic job every year,” she said.
Board member Kori Rosnick praised the team’s hard work.
“You are incredible athletes,” she said. You are working constantly. This is not just in-season and out-of-season. It takes a whole lot of dedication, so pat yourselves on the back.”
Puskas added that cheerleaders have the longest season of all the district’s athletes, often from June through January, and can be relied on to rouse that team spirit during other athletic events as well as their own competitions.
“You’re non-stop.”
Ripley complimented the cheerleaders’ conscientiousness during training.
Yates was also recognized as classified staff member of the year. She serves as an administrative assistant in the high school office and editor of the online Bulldog Bites. Ripley read a statement from the district administrators.
“As an administrative team, we all recognize the incredible work that she does for the district, school and students. Since Day 1 of hiring Kaylynn, she has displayed unrecognizable kindness in the high school office. She shows grace and service to all. We have a saying in Bridgeport that the power is in the team, and as a member of our team Kaylynn lives and breathes this motto.”
Middle School Principal Anne Haverty Lawson spoke about Kuprowicz’s victory, saying he was given some tough words to spell. She said many who were following along in the audience might spell the words mentally and have some difficulty, but Kuprowicz spelled his words on stage and under pressure.
Haverty Lawson said she also observed Kuprowicz’s good sportsmanship among other spellers during the county bee.
“It’s really neat that this young man is going to get to go Memorial Day weekend to Washington D.C. to participate in the bee.”
The school district’s first county spelling champion was Gwen Jackson, who won in 1995. Haverty Lawson said Bridgeport’s last county spelling champion, Lyric Brown, now a senior, was in the audience and cheering Kuprowicz’s win. Haverty Lawson recalled the circumstances Brown experienced during the national contest in 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was during COVID,” she said. The national contest took place online in the school conference room. “The window blinds had to be shut. We couldn’t be looking in on him. We had to stand out there while he was on the computer.”
She added that Brown was able to go on a modified trip to Washington D.C. after the online bee, but he is glad Kuprowicz can compete in the capital itself.
Haverty Lawson said Kuprowicz showed an example of a great work ethic.
Ripley agreed.
“Brett, thanks for working hard for four years. Good for you. That’s not easy to do.”
