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| Staff photo/Joseph Cyr Gabbi Ingersoll of the Caribou Vikings performs her part of a dance during the squad’s routine Saturday in Bangor. |
Washburn also qualifies for Feb. 9 state competition
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
BANGOR — It’s on to the state Class B cheering competition for the Caribou cheering squads.
The Vikings earned the honor to advance to States with an impressive routine in the Eastern Class B cheering event held Saturday at the Bangor Auditorium. Caribou and Presque Isle tied for third place with identical scores.
“Qualifying for States is just one more goal that we were able to check off our list this year,” said Caribou coach Brandi Makepeace-Cote. “As a matter of fact, we went into regionals aiming for third place, and that is exactly what we did. Their performance was their best yet this season. Even more impressive is the massive jump from a 107.7 score at PVC’s two weeks ago to 134.3 points on Saturday.”
Team scores from Saturday were: 1, Ellsworth, 142.2; 2, Hermon, 138.8; 3 (tie), Caribou and Presque Isle, both 134.3; 5, John Bapst, 127.8; 6, Old Town, 124.7; 7, Waterville, 115.5; 8, Mt Desert Island, 114.6; 9, Mt View, 108.4; 10, Washington, 100.7; 11, Nokomis, 96.6; and 12, Oceanside, 84.5.
The top six teams advance to states. The Class B state competition will be held Saturday, Feb. 9, also at the Bangor Auditorium, starting at 10 a.m. and also includes the Class C squads.
“They worked so hard the past couple of weeks and it absolutely paid off for them,” Makepeace-Cote added. “We have all put our hearts into getting this routine just right, and I think that states is where they will shine the brightest this year. I had a very happy group of girls on Saturday and I think that energy and pride will be carried on through the next couple of weeks to states.”
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| Staff photo/Joseph Cyr Courtney Cannon does a jump during her Washburn squad’s routine Saturday at the Eastern Maine cheering championships. |
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| Staff photo/Joseph Cyr Caribou cheerleaders, from left, Chaya Karunasiri, Melanie Biggs and Laiken Tarbox, perform a move during their routine at Saturday’s Eastern Maine Class B Cheering Championships. The Vikings placed third and advanced to the Feb. 9 state event. |
As happy as the Viking squad is with its third-place finish, the group is optimistic it can do even better at States.
“There is only one more goal to be set and met, maybe even exceeded, this season and I have no doubt that this team or our ‘winter family’ as it is sometimes affectionately called, will be successful,” Makepeace-Cote said. “This was supposed to be a re-building season for the Vikings, but it has turned into more of a come-back season for Caribou cheering. I could not be more proud of this group of young ladies and what they have accomplished this year. I know that they are already so proud of themselves, too, and will probably be surprised by what they can achieve at States with just a couple more weeks of hard work and the commitment they have shown thus far.”
Members of the Caribou squad include Sabrina Haney, Jenni Blaisdell, Gabi Ingersoll, Brianna Marte, Jessica Sedar, Melanie Biggs, Becca Malm, Mariesa Sarmiento, Chaya Karunasiri, Emma Jandreau, Mariella Marte, Karina Patterson, Vicky Fraser, Irene Thibodeau, Taylor St. Peter, Lyndsay Rowland, Laiken Tarbox, Madelyn Malone, Kelsey St. Peter, Hilary Jalbert, Kristen Haley and Mallory Patterson.
Washburn finished in sixth place in the Eastern Maine Class D competition and earned the right to compete in the state meet as well.
Deer Isle-Stonington prevented Central Aroostook from winning its sixth consecutive title and captured this year’s championship.
The Beavers scored 82.3 points to barely beat out Buckfield (82.1) for the final qualifying position.
Other squads advancing to the state competition, slated for Saturday, Feb. 9 in Bangor, are: 3, Machias, 100.9; 4, Bangor Christian, 96.9; and 5, Penobscot Valley, 83.3
Also competing were: Jonesport-Beals, 77.6; Woodland, 75.6; and Fort Fairfield, 74.8.
The Washburn squad includes Tiffany Bragg, Mykayla Churchill, Marienna Bragg, Kaylee Doody, Caitlyn Roix, Alexa Woodman, manager Lucia Bragg, Courtney Cannon, Jackie McCarthy and Catelyn Coulombe.
The Fort Fairfield squad, which is coached by Nicole Butler, includes Taylor Everitt, Brook Parady, Becky Theriault, Ciara Campbell, Kasidie Chapman, Sarah Owens, Merissa Clark, Courtney Morgan, Alexis Nichols and Paige Worcester.
