COLUMBIA — Just a year removed from finishing second at the Class 4A state championship, the Easley Green Wave competitive cheer team reached their ultimate goal on Saturday at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, winning the state title for the first time in school history.

The Green Wave, who finished second behind Catawba Ridge at the Upper State championship on Nov. 14, were able to overcome the Copperheads on their way to winning the title.

Easley scored 304.5 points in the competition to best second-place Lucy Beckham’s 295.5 points and third-place Catawba Ridge’s 295.

Rounding out the top 10 in Class 4A were A.C Flora, Riverside, Airport, Myrtle Beach, Irmo, West Florence and Hilton Head.

The title comes on the heels of the Wave finishing second in the state in 2021, coming up shy of repeat state champion A.C. Flora, as well as a third-place finish in 2020.