Western cheerleading coach Carrie Norton was understandably concerned heading into the FHSAA Class 2A state cheerleading championships in Lakeland at the RP Funding Center.
After all, they were competing in a new division and added a couple of former baseball players and a football player who had never cheered before. No matter, the Wildcats won their first state championship in the Class 2A Medium coed division (87.30) in a South Florida sweep.
“This is the first time we’ve been in the coed division, and they nailed it,” said Norton, who is in her 13th year at the school. Kristi Warren has assisted her for the past six years. “We were concerned entering into the coed division having three boys who had never cheered before. We took the risk and they rose to the occasion.”
Park Vista finished in first place in the Medium coed semifinals to advance to the finals where they finished second (84.70) behind the Western. Monarch was third in the finals with 83.20 points.
Western won its fourth overall state title in school history joining girls golf (2003), softball (2018), and flag football (2022).
“I am so incredibly proud of this team and all of their hard work,” Norton said. “For many years we were Extra Large Varsity division and most recently were in the Medium Varsity Division. Every year we get new talent, and we have to assess what division is best for our team.”
“My experience at states this year has been so surreal,” said Western senior Brooke Rothschild. “Going out on the mat knowing I did the best I possibly could alongside my teammates was truly a dream! I am so happy to end my high school cheerleading career out on top.”
Jupiter, Seminole Ridge, Stoneman Douglas and Wellington also took runner-up finishes at the state competition.
Jupiter took second in the state in the Class 2A Extra Large division with 80.90 points, second to Lake Mary (90.40).
“Our team blew our expectations out of the water and left everything out on the mat (Friday),” said Jupiter cheerleading first-year coach Sammi Jaeger. “One thing that we always say as coaches is go out on that mat and walk off having zero regrets and they did just that today but better.”
Stoneman Douglas was a close second in the Class 2A Small non-tumbling division finals as they finished just .20 points behind Plant City Durant (91.20).
The Eagles, coached by Patti Thompson, Ashley Bravo, and Rylee Thompson, set the bar by taking the floor first for the small non-tumbling division and earned a school-record 91.0, only to be surpassed by two-tenths of a point earning them the state runner-up title.
“Our final performance was something that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” said Eagles senior captain Anabelle Civalero. “The team overcame many adversities and performed like true champions. Words cannot describe how proud I am of this team.”
Wellington also narrowly missed capturing a state title as it scored 86.50 points to finish runner-up in the Class 2A Extra Large non-tumbling division behind Lakeland (86.90).
“The girls’ performance was great,” said Wellington coach Heather Brodnicki. “The competition in our division was tough. Even with a one-point deduction, our score was the highest Wellington High has received at the state competition.”
Defending Extra Large division state champion Miramar took third in the semifinals en route to a sixth-place finish (83.90) in the finals. Olympic Heights was fifth (85.90).
Coral Glades, a six-time state champion, was second in the Class 2A Extra Large non-tumbling division semifinals and moved on to the finals where they finished third (78.10).
Seminole Ridge coach Tammy Licavoli happy with her team’s runner-up finish in the Large Coed division. The Hawks scored 87.90 points to trail only Bartow (93.50).
“Even though the team performed amazingly, with incredible energy, it did not go our way,” Licavoli said. “We had one stunt drop in the beginning, but the team persevered and continued the routine as if it never happened.”
Two-time defending Medium non-tumbling state champion West Broward finished fourth (83.20) in the Class 2A Large non-tumbling division and defending state Large non-tumbling state champion Dillard (83.70) took third in the same division.
St. Thomas Aquinas finished first in the Class 2A Extra Large division semifinals and moved on to the finals where they finished fourth (77.40).
Former state champions King’s Academy and Coral Springs Charter were third and fourth respectively in the Class 1A Small coed division.
Pompano Beach finished first in the Medium non-tumbling division semifinals en route to a fifth-place finish in the finals. Cardinal Gibbons placed fifth in the Extra Large non-tumbling division finals.
The competitive cheerleading state championships crowned 21 divisional champions over two classifications (1A & 2A). All class 2A divisions competed on Friday, while the 1A divisions competed on Saturday.
