Savannah Christian Preparatory School seniors Melissa Maxwell and Bailey Buttrey have been friends since kindergarten, classmates throughout high school, and, in many ways, have grown up together. Now, the two Raiders can say they will cheer “Between the Hedges” together at the University of Georgia.
For the two longtime friends, the dream became reality on Monday May 5th, when both signed and knew they earned spots on the Georgia all-girl cheer squad for the upcoming year.
Milissa Maxwell, left, and Bailey Buttrey pose after announcing their signing to continue their cheerleading careers at the University of Georgia. Courtesy Savannah Christian Preparatory School Athletics Department.
Maxwell and Buttrey began cheering in middle school and continued all four years at Savannah Christian, on the sidelines, in competition, and on game day. Along the way, both also competed in all-star cheer, training at Top Gun Savannah while balancing school, practices, travel, and competition.
Savannah Christian cheer coach Charita Bowers said cheering at Georgia had been a goal for both athletes since they were little girls.
“Both of these girls have wanted to do this since they were little kids, like it's been a dream of theirs,” Bowers said.
Getting there was not easy.
Georgia cheer tryouts are considered some of the toughest in college cheerleading. Athletes receive material shortly before tryouts, are placed into groups with athletes they may not know, and must perform through several rounds before final decisions are made.
Bowers followed much of the experience through FaceTime while attending her son’s baseball tournament in Valdosta.
“They both, you know, excelled and did phenomenal,” Bowers said. “Definitely rep the prep, you know, to the highest degree.”
Coach Bowers said the opportunity came from years of hard work, leadership, and dedication inside and outside the Savannah Christian program.
“Well, I will say when it comes to Melissa and Bailey, they are 2 of the most dedicated individuals that have come through this program,” Bowers said.
Both athletes also competed this season with Top Gun Savannah at the world championships. Buttrey’s team captured a world title while both continued balancing academics and their responsibilities with the Raiders program.
Bowers said one of the things that stands out most is how dependable both athletes became throughout their careers.
“They have been leaders,” Bowers said. “They have just been remarkable.”
Now, the next chapter of their journey will continue together in Athens.
The two close friends will head to Georgia together this fall, continuing a journey that started years ago in youth cheerleading gyms and carried through Savannah Christian.
“It’s just another chapter of their journey,” Bowers said. “So it’s just, it’s exciting.”
For Savannah Christian, this moment is another reminder that cheerleaders are athletes too. Not just pretty faces and smiles under the Friday Night Lights!
The long practices, travel, training, pressure, and competition are all part of the journey that make cheerleaders athletes. Maxwell and Buttrey put in the work for years, and now two lifelong friends will live out their dream together “Between the Hedges.”
Photo courtesy of Savannah Christian Preparatory School Atheltics Department
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