Photo courtesy of Douglass Photography
STATE CHAMPIONS — The Houlton High School cheering squad captured the State Class C cheering title for the second time in five years with their performance Saturday at the Bangor Auditorium.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
The Houlton High School cheerleaders turned adversity into triumph last Saturday, as they captured the 2010-11 Class C state championship.
Last week, the squad lost senior Marcy Hernandez to an emergency appendectomy, but vowed to do their best, and they did.
Co-coach Julie Dunn said the key to Houlton’s win was the team’s focus since they were the last ones to be called for their performance.
“It is very difficult to go last even though it is the best position to be in,” said Dunn. “You have to sit and watch all the other teams perform and nerves can build. The girls and Brandon knew what they had to do and they did it. With all of the last-minute mishaps and changes involved this season, it is amazing they did so well.”
After the Houlton squad received their first-place trophy, co-coach Shari Good said, chants of “This is how we do it” were heard throughout the Bangor Auditorium.
Photo courtesy of Douglass Photography
Performing their routine at Saturday’s State Class C cheering competition are members of the Houlton Shire squad.
“This song was part of the squads ‘90s-themed routine, as well as the motto that could be seen on the neon green T-shirts worn by many of our enthusiastic fans,” Good said.
So when Good opened a fortune cookie that read “practice for the best, and prepare for the worst,” that became Houlton’s mantra. Good and Dunn were extremely proud of their cheerleaders’ efforts.
“The squad got the job done by putting in lots of long hours,” Good said. “They worked very hard to stay conditioned to make sure the stunts, jumps and tumbling were strong and solid for Saturday’s performance.”
“It was the best performance we had seen them perform,” Dunn added. “And we really had no idea where they had placed, as all the other teams did as well.”
The Houlton cheerleaders scored 140.1 points surpassing second-place Orono (135.5), third-place (and defending state champion) Sumner (134.2) and Western Maine champ Monmouth Academy (129).
Dunn said her reaction was “total shock.”
“This was a clear win by five points, usually a loss can be by tenths of a point,” she said. “The judges really liked our routine. The choreography was key although you can have the best routine in the world and if you can’t execute it, it does you no good.”
Photo courtesy of Douglass Photography
All smiles as she performs at the Bangor Auditorium Saturday is Sarah Bouchard of the state-champion Houlton High School cheering squad
The top three teams in each class are eligible to compete in the New England Spirit Championship in Providence, R.I. on March 19. The team is meeting to decide whether or not they will attend.
With Houlton losing a girl before the Regional finals and then losing Hernandez, a senior, before states was a huge blow. The road to the state competition was filled with bumps, it wasn’t easy for them. The Houlton cheerleaders reworked their routine to replace teammates. The alternates performed admirably and the squad didn’t give up, pulling together in the most difficult times to rise to the top.
According to coaches Dunn and Good, the team worked on transitions, timing and overall perfection with the squad to make sure that when the team went on the floor Saturday their performance was the best it could be.
“During their times of challenge, they stood strong and rose to the occasion,” said Good. “The extra time and effort that they all put in paid off in the end. When they were awarded the state championship they were more than happy to announce “This is how we do it!’”
Dunn said the judges comments were: “Creative opening,” “Creative load-ins to stunts,” and “Creative transitions, good variety and great visuals.”
“So, the combination of an awesome routine and a well-executed performance was key to our win,” Dunn said. “The crowd also plays a key role in all of this. All the screaming and cheering from the fans helps with appeal/overall effect. We so appreciate our fans.”
The Houlton cheerleaders just kept getting better as the season progressed, despite all that was thrown at them. They started with a fourth-place finish in the Penobscot Valley Conference competition. They worked on cleaning up the routine and captured the Aroostook County championship and polished the routine even more to win the Eastern Maine title.
“The entire squad is still amazed to think that they are the best in the state,” said Good. “They will remember this win forever. Some of the seniors have been cheering since middle school and to end their time together with a state championship has always been their goal.”
Members of the Houlton squad include: seniors Brandon Murphy, Jenn Farrar, Danielle Daigle, Marcy Hernandez and Taylor Lindsay; juniors Jaclyn Hodgkins and Dakota Jenkins; sophomores Melissa Peabody, Crystal Nason, Erynne Howland, Lauren Bragan, Taylor Forest, Sarah Bouchard, Ashley McNinch, Maggie Russell, Kristin Farwell, Lizzi Flint and Mikaela Tuttle; and freshmen, Emily Dee, Katelynn McClure, Kaycee McClure and Jessica Thorne. The managers are Realeeanna Brooker and Maryah Ranck and the assistant coach is Leah Bates.
