High school cheerleading teams win big to qualify for state competition
Cheerleaders from three Glenbard high schools and Lake Park High School are headed to the Illinois High School Association state competition today.
Glenbard South High School's cheerleaders took first place out of 13 teams in the co-ed division of the IHSA sectional competition at Andrew High School in Tinley Park. They will compete Friday at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington.
Glenbard South team members include captains Allison Brave and David Lyons, Kyle Berg, Ellen Bazigos, Michelle Bieke, Kristin Damitz, Kelly Djoum, Christina Duski, Abbey Green, Antoinae Goodman, Ch'nese Henderson, Eileen Knowles, Danee Miskimen, Kevin Murphy, Shannon Nurse, Colleen Rooney, Tony Shustar, Claire Sladek, Ashley Steger, Jade Steger, Stephanie Straka, Jenna Thilly and Bianca Zlatea. Glenbard South coaches are Erica Andrews and Jason Trost.
Cheerleaders from Glenbard East in Lombard, Glenbard West in Glen Ellyn and Lake Park High School in Roselle also qualified for state competition at the sectionals Jan. 26 at Lake Park.
Lake Park took first in its large team competition, while Glenbard West took third in large team sectional 2 and Glenbard East took fourth in the coed team competition.
The Glenbard West cheerleaders competed against 20 teams in the large varsity division, considered the most competitive of the four divisions in the state. Glenbard West's team also was chosen by the Illinois Cheer Coaches Association to compete at the state series in Springfield Feb. 9.
Glenbard West's team includes freshmen Lauren Hookham, Abby Marshall, Sarah Kohnke; sophomores Breah Bower, Christina Taggart, Haley Flynn, Jenny Sinopoli and Karin Roug; juniors Melissa Lancaster, Brittany Hayward, Brittney Friend, Lexi Nachriener, Jamie Scott, Alex Skryd, Mary Hines and Lauren Jackson; seniors Jaclyn Ruffolo, Danielle Coppola, Staci Wallar, Amanda Jurewicz, Lexie Kondogianis, Callie Gladish, and captains Megan Flynn, Molly Marshall and Elise Roug. Michelle Gatz and Rich Gatz coach the Glenbard West team.
Glenbard East's cheerleaders are Tori Charvat, Molly Connelly, Eric Cornell, Katie Eberle, Bianca Fuentez, Liz Gratzke, Kevin Knoll, Mark Krueger, Sammi Kuderna, Elizabeth McDermott, Katie McGovern, Julia Newman, Sean Olsen, Dana Pelz, Kristina Pipkin, Melanie Plant, Barbara Reneau, Tito Salazar, Jessica Smith, Felicia Spinner, Kristen Strejc, Jana Urkoski, Rachel Vella and Haley Wittenberg. Jana Yetzke is the head coach and Amber Millard is assistant coach.
Lake Park High School students competing in the state cheerleading championship are Kristina Bryant, Eileen Corley, Gianna D'Amico, Brittany Dombek, Allasandra Faso, Meghan Finley, Melanie Gage, Maggie Gnatek, Courtney Gruendler, Lindsay Gunderson, Stephanie Halihan, Nikki Hendry, Kasha Henricks, Paige Jendrycki, Samantha Koch, Ellie McGraw, Amanda Miller, Valerie Mills, Kelsey O'Connor, Laura Petitte, Jessica Sibigtroth, Jazz Singh, Anthony Sutton, Mallory Tumminaro, Cayla Wegner and Amanda Zorrilla.
Team members Lindsay Gunderson, Samantha Koch, Ellie McGraw, Anthony Sutton, Mallory Tumminaro, Cayla Wegner will not be competing.