CARIBOU, Maine – Four Aroostook County teams used Saturday’s County Cheering Championships as a practice round for Saturday’s state championships and the four all finished back-to-back.
Houlton, Caribou, Fort Fairfield and Central Aroostook are all tightening their moves this week for Saturday’s competition at Bangor and all took the top-four spots at Caribou Saturday.
Houlton used music from 1980’s pop star Michael Jackson as the basis for a fast-paced routine featuring a four stunt group performing scorpions and arabesques and a pyramid with two fliers performing tick-tocks which are where the girls are in a one-legged stunt and are popped up and switch legs without hitting the floor. The routine earned the team second-place honors in Eastern Maine and top honors in Aroostook County as well as the award for best team stunts and jumps.
Fort Fairfield also came out with a fast-paced routine. The dance and tumbling, which earned the Tigers the top spot in Eastern Maine Class D, also gave them Aroostook County designation for best team dance, but earned them a third-place finish.
Caribou placed second and earned distinctions for best team motions while Central Aroostook took fourth as well as the spirit award.
Also competing were Presque Isle, which placed fifth and Van Buren in sixth.
Individual awards went to Fort Fairfield’s Elizabeth Tuck and Houlton’s Mallory McPartland for all-star jumps; Fort Fairfield’s Josh Barnes and Central Aroostook’s Brittni Mosher for all-star tumbling; and the Houlton team for all-star stunts.
The Caribou team is comprised of Laura Till, Brandi Pelletier, Julie Ellis, Katie Smith, Jessica Ouimet, Amber Pelletier, Samara Cyr, Erin Susee, Krista Albert, Hannah Saunders, Courtney Hamlin, Ashley Johndro, Taylor Willette, Megan Bechard and Megan Jandreau. The team is coached by Brandi Makepeace.
Fort Fairfield team members are Tuck, Barnes, Paige Beaulieu, Keiza Bernaiche, Gabrielle Bowker, Kylie Chambers, Simona Cremer, Melissa Clark, Janelle Duncan, Jennifer Dufour, Katey Enman, Mallory Ferrier, Sarah Hebert, Stephanie McIntosh, Alyssa Kilcollins, Ashley McNally, Kellie Osgood, Marcus Spear, Taylor Turner and Rachel Worcester. The team is coached by Kelly Bubar and managed by Amanda Ketch.
Central Aroostook is made up of Mosher, Katelyn Field, Michelle Tweedie, Shelby Hallett, Miranda Levesque, Ashley Brewer, Latisha Neece, Shannon Michaud, Brittany Clark, Rachael Donahue, Kaila Foster, Olivia Grow, Sarah Michaud, Rachel Donovan and Bree Taylor. The team is coached by Sami Allen and Danielle Doughty.
Presque Isle cheerleaders are Angela Barnes, Brittany Brown, Brianne Calabrese, Rachel Churchill, Allesha Dockery, Naiomi Donovan, Kassandra Dumais, Brittany Duncan, Jordyn Kinney, Charlie Kirk, Marissa Littlefield, Amanda Lynds, Jordyn Madore, Nicole Michaud, Hayley Ritchie, Rebekah Shaw, Jenna Watt and Autumn Whittaker. The team is coached by Mandy Putnam.
