Elk Grove High honors state champion cheerleading team

Elk Grove High School cheerleaders were feted at a school assembly this morning after winning their third straight state championship over the weekend.

When team members arrived in Bloomington Thursday, for the two-day competition, they learned that Friday's snowstorm had forced officials to eliminate the preliminary round, leaving squads only one shot, in Saturday's finals.

"It takes a lot to 'wow' me," said their head coach, Jeff Siegal, "but they nailed it. They performed a nearly perfect routine."

Elk Grove and its college-styled cheering led the 25 schools in the coed division, while Palatine High School finished third, and Libertyville placed fifth.

Among other medium-sized suburban Chicago schools, Antioch High School finishing fourth. Wauconda placed sixth and Vernon Hills placed ninth among the top 10.

"Every year, the talent gets better and better," said Robin Gwinn, Antioch head coach. "This is the most talented squad I've had in my 15 years here."

Among large schools, Lake Park High School's cheerleading team, which has won their sectional the last two years, finished highest among area schools, in fourth.

Conant High School, led by their coach and assistant principal Danielle Houser, saw their highest state finish ever, placing sixth.

Elk Grove entered the competition with a team consisting of only one returning boy on the nine-member team and one key member was injured.