Cheers for Elk Grove High School - again
Elk Grove High School's coed cheerleading squad earned their fourth straight state title over the weekend at the IHSA's Competitive Cheerleading finals in Bloomington, but it didn't come easily.
In the middle of the squad's three-minute routine, during the final round to determine the state champion, senior Francisco Leija of Des Plaines suffered a broken hand while catching his cheerleader during a toss chair coed stunt.
Somehow, the first year cheerleader, continued and helped the team nail their program to defend their title.
"I thought, 'I have to finish, I didn't want to mess it up for the team,' " Leija said on Sunday, with his hand wrapped in a soft cast. "I didn't think about it through the rest of the routine. I just had to block out the pain."
Between the time the squad finished and the medal ceremony, Leija and the school trainer went to the nearby emergency room where his broken hand was confirmed.
"It's such a testament to his character, and to the whole team," said head coach Jeffrey Siegal. "They're just awesome."
In attendance at Saturday's finals at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum were Elk Grove High School Principal Nancy Holman and Assistant Principal Rick Mirro. They've planned an honors assembly to recognized the state champions at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11.
"This means so much," Mirro said, "not just to our school and student body, but to the (Northwest Suburban High School District 214) and the community."
Mirro points out that Elk Grove's cheerleaders are the only team to have won the state title in the coed division since the IHSA began recognizing cheerleading as a sport and mounting its state series in 2006.
Rounding out the top 10 finishers in the coed class were Barrington High School which placed third, followed by Downers Grove South in fourth, Palatine in fifth, and Streamwood in 10th place.
Conant High School in Hoffman Estates finished highest among suburban schools in the hotly contested large school class, coming in fourth. Head coach Dana Naumann led a squad that included 10 seniors of its 20 girls, and their leadership helped drive the team's success, she said.
"They nailed their routine, both days," Naumann said. "They had a blast out on the floor and it showed."
Other top 10 finishers among large schools included Stevenson in sixth, Lake Park in seventh, Lake Zurich in ninth and Neuqua Valley in 10th place.
A trio of Lake County high schools finished in the top 10 in the medium school division. Wauconda finished the highest, in fourth, followed by Grayslake North in sixth and Antioch in seventh.
Antioch Coach Robin Gwinn is a veteran in the sport, having coached 18 years and also served as a judge. She was pleased her relatively young squad wound up in the top 10.
"We're very young, with only six of our girls having been to state before," Gwinn said. "We've had a lot of injuries this year - I have to wrap 12 ankles before every routine - which just shows you how incredibly difficult the sport of cheerleading is."