Three area schools compete at regional cheering finals
BANGOR — The Hermon High School cheering squad has had relatively few disappointments during a recent run of success highlighted by six Class B state championships in the last seven years.
But the Hawks are not infallible, as a botched pyramid during the recent Big East Conference championship meet proved.
That mishap may turn out to be bad news for Hermon’s competition during the remainder of the season.
Coach Kristie Reed’s club first rebounded to capture the Penobscot Valley Conference Class B title, then showed more championship form on Jan. 27 by winning the 15-school Class B North competition at the Cross Insurance Center.
The Hawks shook off a slight hiccup on the first stunt of their three-minute routine to score a season-high 85.5 points and defeat second-place Ellsworth (81.4).
Hermon and Ellsworth earned berths in the Class B state championship meet to be held Feb. 10 at the Cross Insurance Center along with Old Town (75.9), Mount Desert Island of Bar Harbor (65.9), Gardiner (62.9) and Erskine Academy of South China (57.5).
Other teams in the regional field were Presque Isle (55.4), John Bapst of Bangor (54.8), Foxcroft Academy Academy (54.3), Mount View of Thorndike (51.1), Caribou (50), Nokomis of Newport (49.4), Washington Academy of East Machias (48.6), Winslow (47.2) and Waterville (47.1).
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After finishing a disappointing third in the Penobscot Valley Conference Class C cheering competition in their home gym last weekend, head coach Carly Cropley and her Mattanawcook Academy girls from Lincoln made some changes to their routine in preparation for Saturday’s Class C North regional at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
And they certainly paid off.
The Mattanawcook girls racked up 68.3 points to capture their first regional title since 1999.
PVC champ Central of Corinth was second with 66.5 points and will accompany MA to the state Class C championships in Bangor on Feb. 10 along with the other teams that finished in the top six: Sumner of East Sullivan (65.5), Houlton (64.2), Calais (54.3) and Orono (53.1).
The other four teams that competed were Bucksport (50.7), Penquis of Milo (43.6), Lee Academy (43.3) and Dexter (41).
Bangor Daily News photo/Pete Warner
PONIES AT REGIONAL FINALS — Foxcroft Academy performs a stunt during Saturday’s Class B North regional cheering competition at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The Ponies finished 10th among 15 schools with a score of 54.3 points.