Dexter cheering squad qualifies for states

BANGOR — The Dexter varsity cheerleading squad used a fifth-place finish at Saturday’s Class C North competition meet at the Cross Insurance Center to advance to the upcoming state championships.

BDN photos/Ashley L. Conti

ON TO STATES — The Dexter Regional High School cheering team earned a trip to the 2016 Class C Championship by virtue of the squad’s fifth-place finish at the Class C North Championship on Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The Tigers earned a score of 54.2 points to place finish fifth out of 12 schools. The state competition will be held Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Cross Insurance Center.

The state meet will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, also at the Cross Center.

Coach Ashley Scott’s Tigers, who performed sixth in the 12-school Class C rotation, totaled 54.7 points with no penalty deductions to earn one of sixth North division berths in the state competition.

Dexter team members are senior Emmitt Ross, juniors Grace Belanger, Olivia Day, Autumn Nickerson, Kirsten Swimm and Jasmine Woodard, sophomores Lily Cummings, Morgan Gilman Lauren Lachance, Kiara Rider and Kayla Rutledge, and freshmen McKaila Kimball and Hailey Roberts.

Also competing in the Class C North meet, but not qualifying for states, was Penquis Valley of Milo, which finished with 41.7 points. Coach Tammy Murano’s squad includes Beth Watts, Selena Siebert, Mariah Tuscano, Allyssa Murano, Brooke Mckenzie, Faith Brown, Cherish Durant, Kayla Harmon, Leah McKissick, Samantha Gibson, Lexi McMahon, Brianna Champeon, Denali Smith, Faith Spencer, Shauna McComb, Faith Simmons and Linsley Karpowicz.

Orono won the Class C North competition with 75.3 points, followed by Central of Corinth (69.0), Houlton (64.6), Sumner of East Sullivan (62.6), Dexter and Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln (50.0) as state meet qualifiers.

Old Town won its first Class B North crown in 14 years, topping that 15-school field with 76.4 points to win a tight three-way battle with Hermon (75.4) and Ellsworth (75.3). Other Class B state qualifiers were John Bapst of Bangor (66.7), Presque Isle (65.9) and Mount View of Thorndike (59.3).

Foxcroft Academy placed 11th in the Class B field with 50.9 points and no penalty deductions.

Members of coach Shari Sage’s squad are Haily Fortier, Kimberly Hanson, Renee Smith, Cody Strout, Jessica Moore, Michelle Smith, Emily Sprecher, Hannah Vainio, Julia Brasslett, Roseann Buzzelli, Lauren Cooper, Rebekah Fishburn-Batey, Breanna Jazowski, Aiden Manning, McKenzie McLeod, Sydney Quigley and Hillary Redmond.

BDN photos/Ashley L. Conti

PONIES AT REGIONALS — The Foxcroft Academy cheering team finished in 11th place out of 15 squads, with a score of 50.9 points, during the Class B North Championship on Jan. 23 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.