Staff Writer
LINCOLN – The Viking varsity cheering squad broke the hearts of the judges in their favor after two round of competition to take third place at the Big East Championships on Saturday with their themed routine.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson Samara Cyr performs at the Aroostook League cheering competition where Caribou captured first place.
“Since we changed some of the stunt sequences, their stunts are quickly becoming their strengths,” said head coach Brandi Makepeace. “They’re tighter, cleaner and sharper.”
The CHS roster includes many freshmen and sophomores, but youth hasn’t held them back as most of the cheerleaders gained experience in middle school.
The maroon cheering squad went into Saturday’s competition having topped the local competitors at the Aroostook League Cheerleading Competition. Makepeace uses the early competitions to prepare for Eastern Maine Regionals, which take place this Saturday at Bangor.
“We’re still pretty shaky in the beginning, so we use the score sheets from that to improve,” explained Makepeace. “We’ve been pounding it and pounding it all week.”
While the team hopes to prove competitive at the Bangor exhibition, Makepeace encourages a light-hearted attitude.
“I always try to tell the girls to go out and have fun with genuine smiles and genuine energy,” said Makepeace, now in her third year of coaching.
The squad hopes to engage the audience and judges with their athletic dance and tumbling to show off their school colors among the Class B competition at Bangor on Saturday.
