By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
BANGOR, Maine — It is on to the state Class B cheering competition for the Presque Isle Wildcats. Presque Isle earned a spot in the state event, slated for Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Augusta Civic Center. The Class B competition begins at 2:30 p.m., and is consolidated with the Class C championships. The awards ceremony is slated for 5 p.m.
An estimated 2,500 fans braved the elements Saturday to watch the daylong Class B, C and D contests at the new Cross Insurance Center.
Eight days after its first-place finish at the Aroostook League Cheering Competition, Presque Isle finished fourth in the regional with 130.3 points.
“We have been working very hard this season with the goal of going to the state competition and earning a score of 130 or higher. We’ve been taking the feedback that we received from the judges at our prior competitions and worked to incorporate it into our routine,” said PI coach Jenna Bradstreet.
“Our captains and seniors, Kelsie Spooner and Katelyn Michaud, really stepped up and helped lead the team to success and in turn we met both of our goals,” she added.
Hermon, the three-time defending state champs, proved to be the dominant squad in Eastern Class B once again with an impressive routine.
Final team scores had Hermon with 145.1 points, followed by Ellsworth (142.8), Old Town (131.4), Presque Isle, Caribou (121.1), John Bapst (119.6), Erskine Academy of South China (108.7), Gardiner (106.1), Foxcroft Academy (102), Waterville (98.2), Nokomis of Newport (94.3), Mount View of Thorndike (88.9), Mount Desert Island of Bar Harbor (88.9), Winslow (80.6) and Oceanside of Rockland-Thomaston (70.7).
Other team members for Presque Isle include Madalyn Caron, Emily Buckley, Renee Browning, Makayla Burbee, Kelsey Michaud, Madison Bagley, Gabriella Donovan, Michelle Cawley, Lindsey Lagerstrom and Alexandra Michaud.
This marks the fifth consecutive year that PI has qualified for the state championships.
