BANGOR, Maine — The four-time defending state champion Central Aroostook Panthers will have some work to do if they want to make it five straight titles.
Central Aroostook lost by a margin of 5.2 points and finished as runners-up to Penobscot Valley High School of Howland in Saturday’s Class D North regional held at the Cross Insurance Center.
The Panthers scored 62.4 points, not enough to defeat the Howlers.
Clara Kohlbacher holds up teammate Jessica Boucher during Presque Isle’s routine at the Class B cheerleading championships in Bangor Saturday. (BDN photo/Pete Warner)
Central Aroostook boasts a roster similar in experience to Penobscot Valley with six seniors and seven freshmen, but the Panthers were unable to match the Howlers on the mat a week after defeating the likes of Class B Presque Isle and Caribou and Class C Houlton to win the Aroostook League title.
“We were doing very well, but we also knew the scores were not quite where we wanted them to be,” said Central Aroostook head coach Sami Jo Allen. “We knew we had to increase our pyramid and partner stunts and try to increase our tumbling and that’s where we were getting beat, on the tumbling.
“We didn’t have a perfect routine out there so we’re going to try and clean it up,” she added. “We’re not giving up, that’s for sure. There’s no giving up.”
The state championships are Feb. 10 and are being held once again at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The Class C and B competition begins at 10 a.m., followed by the D and A event at 2 p.m.
Members of the Panther squad are Lillie Mahan, Keara McCrum, Hunter Nicholson, Holly O’Leary, Michaela Pelletier, Chloe Wheeler, Olivia Pelletier, Olivia Pelletier, Jillian Tweedie, Gracie Giberson, Mersaydez Johnston, Jack Schafer, Allysa Tilley, Hudson Bradbury, Megan Brewer, Emma Fletcher, Amy Gerritsen, Elizabeth Hotham, Jenna Rusby and Janelle Tweedie. Janice Mosher is Allen’s assistant coach.
Fort Fairfield posted 39.4 points and placed seventh out of eight teams.
In Class B North, Hermon was the winner with 85.5 points, with Ellsworth placing second with 81.4.
Presque Isle finished just one position shy of reaching the state championships. The Wildcats were seventh with 55.4 points. Caribou was 11th with 50.
In Class C North, Houlton placed fourth, earning a spot to the state competition.
The Mattanawcook Academy girls racked up 68.3 points to capture their first regional title since 1999. PVC champ Central of Corinth was second with 66.5 points. The remaining squads qualifying for states were Sumner of East Sullivan (65.5), Calais (54.3) and Orono (53.1).
The other four teams that competed were Bucksport (50.7), Penquis of Milo (43.6), Lee Academy (43.3) and Dexter (41).
Caribou cheerleaders, from left, Sheridan Blackstone, Crissy Corbin and Molly McCrossin perform Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor during the Class B cheerleading regional championships. (BDN photo/Pete Warner)
Joining the north squads will be the following Class C South squads (with their results from the regional meet in Augusta included), Lisbon, 67.5; Sacopee Valley, 55.3; Monmouth Academy, 55.1; Wiscasset, 51.7; Dirigo, 46.8; and Boothbay 45.1.
“The girls had a great performance on Saturday,” Houlton coach Renae Foley said. “We made some changes to our routine last week, and the girls implemented those changes beautifully. As we look forward to our state competition, we will continue to work on making our routine clean and solid.”
Members of the Houlton squad are Taylor Cowan, Brittany Fitzpatrick, Makenzie Fitzpatrick, Delaney Despres, Claire Gilpatrick, Alexis Miller, Lexi Crouse, Kaitlyn Smith, Paige Ford and Isabelle Cosby; and back, Sidney Peabody, Kalle Neureuther, Autumn McNinch, Ocean Sadler, Hannah Foster, Emmalyne Drake, Josiane Ford, Morgan Harris, Alex Reed, manager Alyssa Drake and coaches Foley and Julie Dunn.
Bangor Daily News sports reporter Ernie Clark contributed to this story.
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- Julian McKenney holds the ankles of a teammate as Megan Schupbach, left, performs for the crowd during Fort Fairfield’s routine at the Class D cheering championships held Saturday in Bangor. (BDN photo/Pete Warner)
