By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The Aroostook League Cheering Championships were held at Caribou High School Friday, with the Presque Isle Wildcats taking first place, the Central Aroostook Panthers second and the host Vikings third in the six-team competition. PI won by scoring 68.9 points, followed by CA with 64.8 and Caribou with 60.4.
“The 12 athletes that make up the team have been working very hard this season to perfect their routine,” said Wildcat coach Jenna Bradstreet. “Through each performance, they are beginning to showcase their strengths and are more aggressive to correct their mistakes within the routine.”
Central Aroostook coach Sami Allen was also pleased with her team’s effort, even though the squad went in facing some adversity. She said two team members were injured during warm-ups, but they carried on and the results were much better than anticipated.
“They hit everything and it was so amazing,” Allen said. “[Assistant coach] Janice [Mosher] and I were so proud of their performance. The team pulled together as one.”
Houlton placed fourth with 59.2, while Washburn was fifth with 50.3 and Fort Fairfield sixth with 48.4.
Winning the Spirit Award, which is voted on by all the competing teams, was Central Aroostook.
Team awards were presented in several categories.
Presque Isle won for best dance, best motions, best jumps and best stunts, while Caribou took first for tumbling.
All-star awards were also given out, with Caribou winning for stunt group.
Hannah MacDonald of the Vikings and Colby Endy of Central Aroostook won for all-star jumps and Endy and Sarah Gerritsen, also of CA, won for all-star tumbling.
Members of the victorious Presque Isle squad are Katelyn Michaud, Kelsie Spooner, Emily Buckley, Madolyn Caron, Mackayla Burbee, Renee Browning, Alexandra Michaud, Kelsey Michaud, Lindsey Lagerstrom, Madison Bagley, Michelle Cawley and Gabriella Donovan.
Those on the runner-up CA Panthers are Alexis Bradbury, Brittany Drost, Endy, Megan King, Courtney Milliard, Shannon Scully, Whitnie Bradbury, Jordan Canney, Victoria Brewer, Elizabeth Gillen, Dayna Collins, Noelle Bailey, Haley Rowe, Gerritsen, Emilee Durost and Halee Rusby.
Presque Isle also participated in Saturday’s Penobscot Valley Conference championships, held at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln.
In that event, the Wildcats wound up with a third-place finish out of eight teams. Their score was 125.7.
Hermon took first in the large school competition with 145 points, followed by Ellsworth with 137.3.
“We were up against teams who have very strong tumbling and stunting routines,” Bradstreet said. “We were thrilled to place third.”
The Eastern Maine Championships are next, to be held Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
“We will work on cleaning up the routine,” Allen said. “There will not be any big changes because with only two practices scheduled this week, there is not much time, but we are excited to head to Bangor and represent our school.”
