By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
BANGOR, Maine — Two new varsity coaches and a bundle of young, inexperienced cheerleaders are heading to the state Class C cheering competition.
In what was supposed to be a rebuilding season, the Houlton squad is showing it has no intentions of taking a year or two off to regroup. Coming into Saturday’s meet, coaches Michelle Sullivan and Renae Foley had a goal of seeing the Shires make it to States. Mission accomplished.
Houlton finished third out of 13 squads at Saturday’s Eastern Class C event at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Central of Corinth topped all squads with an impressive, high-flying routine that wowed the judges and fans alike. Central scored 127.4 points, easily outdistancing second-place Narraguagus, 113.3 points. Houlton was third with 109.8.
Sumner of East Sullivan (108.8), Orono (106.4) and Dexter (102.7) were the other three teams to earn spots in the state championship. The other scores were: Bucksport 101, Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln 99, Washington Academy of East Machias 90.5, Calais 87.9, Penquis of Milo 84, Lee Academy 83.8 and George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill 54.
The competition will be held Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Augusta Civic Center. The Class C competition will be held alongside the Class B contest, starting at 2:30 p.m.
“We are overjoyed at the results,” said coach Sullivan. “We outscored a team who beat us at the PVCs (Penobscot Valley Conference). We are really excited about being able to participate in States.”
Sullivan and Foley took over the cheering program this fall from longtime coaches Julie Dunn and Shari Good. Sullivan coached the junior high cheering squad in 2010 and 2011, while Foley coached the junior high squads last year and was the varsity cheering coach at Southern Aroostook Community School from 1993-98.
The Shires took their time getting to Bangor Saturday, stopping for a team meal at Olive Garden. Performing 12th in the order of competition was precisely where Sullivan hoped the Shires would be.
Houlton has two weeks to work on its routine and Sullivan said they plan to spend that time perfecting their performance and maybe throwing in a few new twists.
“We are working on feedback from the judges about how to improve,” Sullivan said. “The girls work very hard and are very dedicated to doing their very best.”
Team members include seniors, Jessica Thorne and Emily Dee; juniors, Morgan Wotton, Caleigh Sullivan, Jennah Rand, Autumn London, Hayley Flewelling, Emily Dickison and Jackie Condon; sophomores, Kathryn Knights, Abigail Fore and Taylor Barnes; and freshmen, Rachel Toupin, Tessa Roshto, Taylor Reed, Megan McLaughlin, Hannah Jacobs, Mackenzie Hunt, Lexi Fore, Hannah Foley, Sarah Delano, Medinah Diane and Chloe Davis.
