Penquis earns trip to Class D cheering championship

BANGOR — Defending six-time state champ Central Aroostook High School of Mars Hill rattled off a highly creative and near-flawless performance Saturday, Jan. 25 to cruise to the Class D North/South regional cheerleading championship at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.

Central Aroostook has captured 11 state titles over the last 12 years.

The Panthers led a parade of eight teams that qualified for the state championships Feb. 8 at the Augusta Civic Center.

Twelve teams combined participated from the North and South regions. A minimum of 11 were required to send eight teams to the states. Ten or fewer would have resulted in only the top six advancing.

Central Aroostook racked up 74.9 points with Penobscot Valley of Howland (63.3) and Bangor Christian (58.1) rounding out the top three.

The other qualifiers were Woodland (53), Lee Academy (51.6), Penquis of Milo (49.4), Machias (46.6) and Wiscasset (44.9).

Schenck of East Millinocket, which brought cheering back this year after a multi-year absence, was ninth (40.5), and the other teams were Buckfield (40), Fort Fairfield (31.7) and Boothbay Region (29.1).