Dexter finishes second at C North cheer championship
AUGUSTA — The Dexter Regional High School cheer team finished in second place at the 2024 Class C North championship on Saturday, Feb. 3 at Cony High School.
The Tigers finished the competition with a score of 63 points, the second most among a field of 12 teams and just 1.4 points behind first place Houlton High School/Greater Houlton Christian Academy’s score of 64.4 points. A year ago Dexter won the regional title, before finishing as the Class C runner-up.
The top eight teams from the North and South finals qualify for the Class C championship at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Augusta Civic Center. Joining Dexter will be both Penquis Valley High School and Foxcroft Academy.
DEXTER CHEER — Front, from left, Bree Burgess, Izzie Roberts, Taylor Michaud, Kenzie Kimball, Andrea Gilman, Kenzie Curtis, and Shelby Sinclair. Middle, manager Carolyn Lufkin, Abby Trafton, Sam Lovely, Kenzie Trafton, Fannie Patel, and Madison Lagross. Back, Sunny Bache, mascot Anthony Gonzalez, and Belinda Hernandez.
The Patriots came in third at the Class C North championship with a score of 54.3 points. Foxcroft Academy was seventh with a score of 43.25 points.
The full Class C North standings are 1. Houlton/Greater Houlton Christian 64.4; 2. Dexter 63; 3. Penquis 54.3; 4. Central Aroostook 54.1; 5. Calais 49.2; 6. Mattanawcook 47.4; 7. Foxcroft 43.25; 8. Woodland 42.45; 9. Narraguagus 40.9; 10. Machias 40.6; 11. Penobscot 39.5; and 12. Fort Fairfield 31.2.
Class C South results are — with the top eight also advancing to states — 1. Lisbon/St. Dominic 74.75; 2. Orono 68.7; 3. Sumner 68.55; 4. Bucksport 68; 5. Mountain Valley 66.8; 6. Central 60.95; 7. Bangor Christian 58; 8. Sacopee Valley 52.9; 9. Spruce Mountain 46.9; 10. Monmouth/Winthrop 44.1; 11. Maine Central Institute 44.1; 12. Madison/Carrabec 35.3; 13. Dirigo 34.75; 14. Mt. View 24.7; and 15. Boothbay DNP.
Regionals in three classes, A, B, and C, were held but there was no Class D for the first time since the inception of competitive cheering in 1988 due to the low number of teams. There were just eight teams in the statewide Class D bracket a year ago and those schools were elevated to Class C (these included Penquis). Class C’s North and South divisions were rearranged to create competitive balance and to accommodate the D schools who were moving into the class.
In the closest competition of the four 2023 state cheering championships at the Augusta Civic Center on Feb. 11, the Lisbon-St. Dominic’s of Auburn cooperative squeaked by Dexter by only .20 points (78.40-78.20) to defend its C title and win its third crown in five years.
The Bangor Daily News’ Larry Mahoney contributed to this story.