Cheerleading team gears up for state competition

Brianna Giustino Sports Writer

Astheir season winds down, the varsity cheerleaders aren’t losing any momentum.

The team competed at the Sectional competition at Buffalo Grove on Jan. 28. The team took fourth, qualifying them for the state tournament today, Feb. 3.

“This season has been like no other,” senior Madison Walker said. “One of our goals was making it to State, and we have been getting the highest scores Maine South has ever seen. I’m so excited for what State has to bring and for closing out my senior year like this.”

The team hit a milestone this season, by scoring a 91.65 at the Fremd invite. This is the highest competitive cheer score in Maine South history.

Cheer season is split into two parts: sideline and competition season.

During the sideline season, cheerleaders encourage the football team and crowd during games, while they perform routines and stunts.

The team then makes the transition into competition cheer soon after football season ends.

During this transition, practices start getting more rigorous as the performances have more pressure, but the team environment is what keeps the cheerleaders going.

“At practice, the environment is very encouraging and motivating,” junior Maddie Parrino said. “We all try to cheer each other on to motivate and push one another as best we can. Keeping a strong work ethic in the practice environment is what helps us succeed.”

On Dec. 17, the varsity cheer team participated in their first competition, earning third out of 18 teams at the invite.

The girls knew what they had to do to succeed, and they look to maintain this focus as they compete in the state tournament.

“Our biggest goal this season was to make it to the second day at State,” Parrino said.

To attend the second day of State, the cheerleaders will need to place in the top ten.

At State, the team will compete against over 20 other high schools.