It appears that the Scarborough and Biddeford High cheerleading squads are ready to battle for the Western Maine Class A title once again.
The two top-notch programs competed in Friday’s Southwestern Maine Activities Association league championship along with 13 other teams and this year it was the Tigers who won the league crown. The Red Storm finished a close second and Marshwood took third.
No doubt these two teams will be fighting for first one more time this Saturday when the Western Maine Class A regional competition is held at the Augusta Civic Center beginning at 9 a.m.
Last year, it was Scarborough winning the league title with Biddeford in the runner-up slot, and one week later it was Biddeford winning the West A regional with the Red Storm right on their tails again. Eventually, both teams were on the outside looking in at the state championship where Lewiston won the A title with Scarborough second and Biddeford third.
Friday’s SMAA event was another loud and raucous affair with 15 teams all performing one non-stop routine filled with endless stunts, impressive tumbling, creative choreography and even some old-fashioned cheers.
All the teams were looking to impress a panel of judges enough to get a top-eight score and move on to the call-back round of routines where the title is either won or lost. The points from round one do not carry over and the slate is wiped clean as the teams try for one more show-stopping error-free performance.
There were a number of strong showings on Friday with the teams making the call-back portion of the competition all seemingly having a chance at winning the league championship. The top eight teams after that first round were (in no particular order) Marshwood, Scarborough, Thornton Academy, Bonny Eagle, Gorham, Biddeford, South Portland and Westbrook.
Scarborough’s roster includes: Senior – Kiyonah Watson; Juniors – Elizabeth Bolduc, Samantha Cofone, Jackie Fournier, Leah Paris, Brittny Silke, and Megan Turner; Sophomores – Brandi Bradley, Lisa Bryant, Brianna Mancuso, and Erin Vogel; Freshmen – Kayla Cobb, Kirsten Crear, Shelby Dahms, Tori Fortin, and Kara Johnson. And the Red Storm coach is Cheryl Hitchcock.
South Portland’s roster includes: Seniors – Alycia Henningson, Meghan Cousins, and Christie Penney; Juniors – Samantha Tremblay, Brittany Fuller, Alyssa Mira and Brittany Quint; Sophomores – Stephanie Griffin, Brittany Walsh, Adrienne Legere, Jessica Tripp, Katie Thayer, Lindsay Woodley, and Lizzy Harding; Freshmen – Cari Barney and Kelly Ramsey.
The top six teams at this weekend’s Class A regional will qualify for the state championship meet on Saturday, Feb. 10, in the Bangor Auditorium.
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