PLANT CITY, Fla. - The Plant City Raiders made history by winning the school's first cheerleading state title.

Proud to be a Raider. They’ve been saying it loud and proud in Plant City for quite some time, but now when they say it, they say it as state champs.

The Raiders made history by winning the school’s first cheerleading state title. A two-and-a-half minute routine dazzled the judges and brought home the hardware. “We never thought that this team was going to be the one to do it,” senior Makenzie Cole said. “Like, when this year started, we had no idea that this was going to be the outcome.”

Since they won, the championship cheer team have been invited guests at various functions, including the Strawberry Festival – a real sign of respect.

But that is something this sport has always had in Hillsborough County, thanks to head coach Karen’s Snapp’s dad, Wayne Williamson. The former county athletic director made it his mission to get cheerleading recognized as a sport, just like football and basketball and baseball.

“That’s definitely very special and we’re super lucky,” Cole said.

For decades, an award has been presented to the top cheerleader in Hillsborough County. Williamson began the award and included his daughter. But for the first time since the award first was handed out, the Plant City coach presented the Williamson Snapp Award by herself.

Her father passed away last June, but his legacy lives on with the award.

“My dad just loved people and loved to recognize student-athletes,” Snapp said. This year’s winner, Cole. That made it that much more special. It made Coach Snapp miss her dad even more.

“Especially after we won state, that was the first thing I thought I just wish I could call Daddy,” Snapp said. “That was one of the first things I thought of, I wish I could call my dad.”

Wayne Williamson’s presence was felt throughout the entire journey. Because of him, this state championship Plant City team doesn’t have to fight for respect. He fought for it for every cheerleader. The sport of cheerleading has always been held in high regard in Hillsborough County because of one man.

“Wayne Williamson,” she said. “Absolutely, he started it and I know when they started thinking about doing it through the FHSAA, they asked him for advice, how to put together a cheer competition, what do you do? “And he had been running one for 15 years prior, so he knew exactly what to do.”