CARIBOU, Maine — Many of the cheering squads throughout Aroostook County have been practicing since late November, but soon they finally will get a chance to perform.
The Aroostook League cheering championships are set for Friday, Jan. 11, at Caribou High School, beginning at 7 p.m.
Schools signed up to participate along with the hosts are Fort Fairfield, Central Aroostook, Houlton, and Presque Isle. A team from Southern Aroostook also is joining the competition this year.
Central Aroostook is the defending champion. The Panthers went on to capture the Class D state championship for the fifth consecutive year and 10th time in the last 11.
Sami Allen, who coaches the team along with Janice Lyons, said this year’s routine is one of the most difficult Central Aroostook has ever performed involving stunts.
“We are very excited to show off what we have been working on for the last month,” Allen said. “We graduated six seniors off last year’s team, which is a lot for a Class D team, but this team has worked hard.
“We are competing against ourselves and need to worry about how we can improve and not what other teams have. We use the competition as a stepping stone to get better,” she said. “The kids love competing as it’s not as much pressure as regionals and states.”
The Central Aroostook squad consists of Olivia Pelletier, Jillian Tweedie, Natalie Corson, Jack Schafer, Mersaydez Johnston, Gracie Giberson, Janelle Tweedie, Megan Brewer, Jenna Rusby, Amy Gerritsen, Elizabeth Hotham, Emma Fletcher, Madison Howlett, Daisy Grant and Audree Burtt.
Houlton placed second at the event in 2018 and coach Renae Foley said this year’s routine will have a different twist than past years but she likes how it is coming together.
“We have been working hard to solidify our routine,” said Foley, who coaches the team along with Julie Dunn. “It is a challenging routine that is packed with many great elements and it is a little longer than routines that we have performed in the past, but the girls are pulling it all together nicely.”
The roster for the Shiretowners includes Taylor Cowan, Brittany Fitzpatrick, Makenzie Fitzpatrick, Hannah Pierce, Kate Smith, Tessa Solomon, Isabelle Cosby, Lexi Crouse, Paige Ford, Emily Shaw, Emmalyne Drake, Hannah Foster, Morgan Harris, Kalle Neureuther, Sidney Peabody, Eden Davis and Hailey Hipsley. Alyssa Drake is the team’s manager.
Presque Isle coach Kelsie Spooner, whose team placed third a year ago, said she has a veteran squad and is looking forward to the competition.
“We didn’t lose many seniors so we want to improve upon our skills and we are working extremely hard to better our scores,” Spooner said.
Members of the Wildcat squad are Delaney Alward, Hana Boucher, Taylor Hedrich, Jeanna Knight, Clara Kohlbacher, Emma Kohlbacher, Sophia Lambert Anna Mautz, Claire Mautz, Alexis Moro, Alexa Perkins, Rebekah Poliero, Brooke Schneider and alternate Sydney Robichaud.
Rachel Fisher, coach of the host Vikings, said the current Caribou squad has fewer members than in past years and many are new to the team, but she is looking forward to seeing how the routine turns out.
“We have 11 this year and for five of them, this will be their first time competing at the high school level,” Fisher said. “They’ve all been working very hard and we’re excited to see how they will do.”
Caribou’s roster includes Erin Jandreau, Molly McCrossin, Destiny Soucie, Makenna Smith, Hannah Tarbox, Anna Thibodeau, Kearstin Coty, Marienna St. Peter, Autumn Estabrook, Natalie Braga and Breanna Peter-Paul.
Second-year coach Brandy Osterblom said practices for her Fort Fairfield team have gone well so far and she feels better about things with a year under her belt.
“We know what to expect and were much better prepared going into the season,” Osterblom said. “As always, there have been some struggles with sickness, holidays and the weather and the fact that our season is so short, but all in all things are going really well.
“We have a pretty young team but they have so much drive and dedication,” she added.
Fort Fairfield’s team members are Emily Everitt, Dixie Grady, Skyler Ouellette, Olivia Genthner, Daisy Grady, Autumn Sawyer, Meghan Schupbach, Alyssa Hood, Brendan Osterblom, Kira Rogers and Lindsey White.
Lisa Casey is the head coach of Southern Aroostook, which is competing for the first time in several years.
“Our routine is coming together great,” Casey said. “We are working on polishing up the routine right now and [the girls] are working very hard at it. They are excited to represent their school and have fun.”
She said the Warriors are a team with a good mix of veterans and first-year cheerleaders.
“We have some very seasoned girls who I can count on to be leaders and I’m very proud of how the new girls have improved so far,” Casey said.
The roster for Southern Aroostook is made up of Suzy Mathers, Jayniece Wenzloff, Sammi Desrosier, Emily Slaton, Delaney Greenlaw, Lindsay Derosier, Rose Arnts and Skyla Nelson.
The Spirit Award will be voted on by the competing teams and will be presented following the competition. An All-Aroostook team will be selected, as well as all-stars in jumps, tumbling and stunts.
The Caribou, Central Aroostook, Presque Isle and Houlton middle school teams also will perform during the evening.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students.
Upcoming cheering dates are the Big East Conference championships Jan. 12 in Ellsworth (for Caribou and Presque Isle) and the Penobscot Valley Conference championships Jan. 19 in Hermon (for Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton).
The regional championships, for all six squads, are at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor Jan. 26 and the top teams in each class from that event will qualify for the state championships, set for the Augusta Civic Center Feb. 9.
