Local cheerleaders soak up some cheer at state competition

Area cheerleaders had something to cheer about Sunday after strong finishes in the Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association competition in Springfield.

In the Small Junior Varsity Division, Benet Academy took third, while Lemont finished fifth, Addison Trail placed eighth and Downers Grove North held onto 10th.

In the Small Junior High Division, St. Mary's took fifth.

St. Viator finished fifth, while Glenbard North placed seventh, among the 14 teams competing in the Large Junior Varsity Division.

"We get to come home with a trophy and medals, and the girls are absolutely ecstatic," said St. Viator Coach Vanessa Flores, who oversees a squad of 23. "They worked super hard, so they feel very rewarded."

Flores said it was the team's goal to finish in the top five but added, "To actually get a trophy this year is just huge."

The girls performed one routine, which can be up to three minutes long, usually divided into three sections: one with music; one featuring cheering accompanied by stunts and tumbling; and a dance to music.

Flores said her team of mainly freshmen and sophomores just went out and had fun. She said the music was a mixture that included Avril Lavigne, country selections and such oldies as "Last Dance."

Powerhouse Edwardsville finished first in the Large Junior Varsity Division. "They always come out with a lot of tumbling. Their fliers are very flexible."

ICCA media consultant Laurie Wager said the stands were packed with thousands of people cheering on the cheerleaders. "As a cheerleader, they're used to cheering for someone. All the time, they're cheering for someone else. They're cheering for the basketball team, they're cheering for the football team. It gives them a chance to be cheered for."

Wager added, "The athleticism of the kids on the floor is just kind of amazing, when you sit through a competition and you realize that it's cheerleading but it's (also) tumbling, it's dance, it's theater, it's a little bit of everything all wrapped up into a three-minute performance."