This time last year, the Central Aroostook girls were celebrating the 2008 Class D Regional competition first place finish. Now, they’re celebrating it again.
The Panthers cheering squad traveled to Bangor on Saturday where squads from Class A, B, C and D met in a day long competition.
What the Panthers squad may have lacked in numbers, they made up for in spirit. Five cheerleaders returned for this season, but the veterans welcomed new faces as the squad formed a quick bond early on.
As the squad’s only senior, Rachael Donahue may have had the best perspective on how much work this year’s win would take and Kyle Donahue brought his athletic abilities to the squad as the only male cheerleader.
Led by returning coach Sami Allen, CAHS went up against squads from Machais, Woodland, Trangeley, Buckfield, Deer Isle-Stonington, Jonesport-Beals, Fort Fairfield and Katahdin.
With a final score of 123.9 points, the Panthers won the Class D competition by a landslide, 20 points ahead of second place Machais.
Class D, which incorporates schools from both Eastern and Western Maine, sends the top eight teams to states, which will be held Feb. 7.
Fort Fairfield finished in eighth place with a score of 89.3 points and will also advance to the state championships.
Contributed photo/Douglass Photography
Hermon, ME
PANTHER SENIOR Rachel Donahue strikes a pose with fellow cheerleader Rachel Donovan during one of Central Aroostooks routines on Saturday in Bangor. The Central Aroostook cheering squad took home the first-place title again, after winning last year for the first time since 2002. The Panthers will head to Bangor again next Saturday, Feb. 7 to compete with many of the same Class D squads in the state championships.
Contributed photo/Douglass Photography, Hermon, ME
THE CENTRAL AROOSTOOK PANTHERS CHEERING SQUAD are, in front, from left, Mariah Brewer, Keri Pelletier, Kellie Stitham, Sarah Michaud, Rachel Donahue, Brittni Mosher and Rachel Donovan; and, in back, coach Sami Allen, Janice Mosher, Kayla Demoura, Whitney Klein, Kyle Donahue and Patricia Donovan.
