PI cheerleaders fourth in Class B state meet
Sports Editor
AUGUSTA — In the state Class B cheering championships, Presque Isle finished fourth in another strong showing this winter.
Poland Regional High School won the event scoring 146.8 points, followed by Ellsworth, 145.9; Hermon, 141.5; Presque Isle, 137.2; Waterville, 134; John Bapst of Bangor, 132.9; Wells, 131.9; Mountain Valley of Rumford, 130.9; Oak Hill of Sabattus, 130.3; Medomak Valley of Waldoboro, 129.9; Caribou, 127.5; and Leavitt of Turner, 126.6.
“The girls were very excited about placing fourth and I couldn’t be more proud,” Presque Isle coach Jolene Kinney said. “We improved our score to 137.2, which from the first competition we had scored a 119.8, so to improve almost 20 point is very exciting. The level of competition was great. Ellsworth changed their routine, Hermon had a few bobbles with stunting and Caribou was down a flyer, so I really didn’t know how we were going to do, I just told the girls to perform they best they could and enjoy the feeling of being here. Poland was amazing; clean with tumbling, they deserved the win.”
Kinney added for the seven seniors on the squad, the State meet was bittersweet because the group realized it was their final time competing in Wildcat uniforms.
“All seven of my seniors have been cheering since middle school, so this was an amazing season especially for them,” Kinney said. “They have stuck with this program from when coming in last was the norm, all the way to competing at states.”
Presque Isle traveled to the state meet with Central Aroostook on Friday and the two groups enjoyed a dinner on the town Friday evening thanks to parent and local businesses donations.
“My returning girls are already looking forward to next season and I have expressed to them that tumbling will be key in order to get a win next year,” Kinney said. “My seniors will be hard to replace, their strength, determination and leadership will definitely be missed.”
Members of the Presque Isle cheering squad, which is coached by Jolene Kinney, include Meghan Boucher, Megan Byers, Kaitlin Calabrese, Donovan, Paige Doyen, Brittany Good, Julea Gorneault, Hughes, Kinney, Mackenzie Lamoureux, Bethany Lord, Courtney Lyford, Gabrielle McCrum, Michaela Powers, Miranda Thompson-Lovely and Bonnie Zeng.
Contributed photo by Todd Douglass/Northwood Studios
WILDCAT POWER – The Presque Isle Wildcat cheerleaders form a stunt during their performance at the state Class B meet, held Saturday in Augusta. The Wildcats came in fourth place in the competition.
