By Joseph Cyr
Sports Editor
CARIBOU — A new Aroostook County cheering champion was crowned Friday evening at Caribou High School as Houlton captured the 2011 title. Presque Isle had won the local competition in both 2009 and 2010.
Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr
About to be lifted into the air is Viking Elainee Norris during Friday’s Aroostook County cheering championship.
Houlton edged out the two-time champ Wildcats by less than four points. Team scores for the event were: 1, Houlton, 74.65; 2, Presque Isle, 70.8; 3, Caribou, 69.05; 4, Central Aroostook, 67.15; and 5, Fort Fairfield, 37.2.
“The judges thought we had a very creative routine,” said Houlton coach Julie Dunn. “For the regional competition, we need to focus on making stunts solid, cleaning up dismounts and transitions”
Individual and special team awards were also presented to a number of cheerleaders. Those awards were as follows:
All-Star Tumbling — Brandon Murphy, Houlton; Colby Endy, Central Aroostook.
All-Star Jumps — Courtney Lyford, Presque Isle; and Murphy, Houlton.
All-Star Stunt Group — Caribou.
Spirit Award — Fort Fairfield.
Best Dance Team — Presque Isle.
Best Team Tumbling — Central Aroostook.
Best Team Motions — Presque Isle.
Best Team Jumps — Caribou.
Best Team Stunts — Presque Isle.
Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr
Jessica Devoe of Caribou strikes a pose during Friday’s cheering competition.
For Presque Isle and Caribou, Friday’s competition was merely a prelude to Saturday’s Penobscot Valley Conference championships at Ellsworth High School.
At the PVC meet, Presque Isle finished third with 116.5 points behind Hermon (128.9) and John Bapst (120.5). Caribou’s score at the PVC competition was not available.
Members of the Caribou squad, which is coached by Brandi Makepeace, include: seniors, Kyle McEwen, Hannah Saucier, Giulia Papini, Sarah Peterson and Elainee Norris; juniors, Natasha Bishop, Elsa Thibodeau, Jamie St. Peter, Ashley Clark and Jessica Devoe; sophomores, Jennifer Blaisdell, Sabrina Haney, Elizabeth Dionne, Gabrielle Ingersoll and Brianna Marte; and freshmen, Melanie Biggs, Sophia Maile, Rebecca Malm and Mariesa Sarmiento.
Members of the Fort Fairfield squad include senior Amanda Holton; juniors Lindsey Graves, Ashley Parady, Ashley Johnston and Saki Iwaya; and freshmen Madeline Martin and Shania Nordbrok. The manager is Autumn Coombs and the coach is Jennifer Berube.
Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr
Leading the cheers for Fort Fairfield are, from left, Saki Iwaya, Madeline Martin and Amanda Holton.
