Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Cheer
Their run began in the fall in the Game Day division. The team competed in three invitationals and won all of them. A Mid Wach League championship followed before the season concluded with a fall state championship in the Game Day Large School division, earning an automatic bid to nationals. With the trip to nationals secured, the team continued its success into the winter season. Two winter invitationals produced two more victories, followed by another Mid Wach League title in the Game Day division. The squad was also named Mid Wach Grand Champions among the 21 teams in attendance. Despite adjustments to their routine before the state competition, the team earned the highest score in program history in the Game Day division to capture a second state championship. “The best way I can describe our team is determined and very competitive and it shows every time we hit the mat at every competition,” said senior Sofia Borges. With nationals approaching, the team is eager to compete on the national stage. “It has been a long time since we have traveled to nationals,” said head coach Tracey Hartman. “While the school has numerous national titles dating back to 2007, we have never competed in the Game Day division. Competing alone, on the national stage will be a historic first, but this team has a shot at a national title and we will be preparing over the next two weeks to adjust our routine to the national scoresheet.” “When I found out we were officially going to nationals in Florida, it almost didn't feel real,” said senior Marie Demers. “I couldn’t believe I would be traveling with this team to compete somewhere huge.” “I was so excited to find out we won states and qualified for nationals because I feel like we truly all deserve it,” added senior Kylie Surrette. “We have worked so hard and grown so much from where we all started.” While the championships were a team effort, the senior class has played a major role in the program’s success. “With 11 seniors that have literally built this from the ground up, we were destined to do great things this year,” coach Hartman said. “No one could have imagined that it could have resulted in an undefeated year with not one, but two state titles. For a handful of them this is their third State title of their high school career.” Hartman also noted how much the team has grown since first entering the Game Day division. “We as coaches have literally grown with the seniors on this team with regard to competing in this division,” Hartman said. “We were relatively new to this division when they were freshmen. Although we had a reputation for being a top team in the performance division, we were just beginning to make a name for ourselves in the Game Day division. To see where we started to where we are now is actually amazing.” The athletes are excited for the opportunity to perform their routine on the national stage. “What I am most looking forward to going into nationals is being able to present our routine in Florida against other teams due to the fact we won,” said senior Arianna Pastor. “I’m most excited to be in a new environment when cheering,” added senior Devon Denning. “We’re always at the same schools and atmospheres, and it will be a nice change and a beautiful way to close out my cheerleading career.” The LHS cheerleading team will compete at nationals at Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Fla., on March 14 and 15.