It’s November, which means competitive cheer season is right around the corner and our Shorians are looking to knock down the door to a state championship.

For those who don’t know much on the matter, cheer is a highly competitive sport in high schools across the country, and in the MHSAA girls competitive cheer consists of three separate rounds or routines. Round one consists of sharp motions and multiple team jumps. Round two is the compulsory round with motions, jumps, tumbling, and flexibility skills. Round three is the open round which includes anything previously mentioned, stunts, and pyramids. 

Lake Shore’s cheer team had an impressive season last year, winning the district championship and making it to regionals. The team this year has a lot of returning members and they can’t wait for the season to start. This is what some of the current members have to say regarding the upcoming season.

Adysen Fluary, senior, said, “I’m excited for my last year on the team and making memories.” 

Last year Fluary had an injury and was unable to participate, but this year being her last year at Lake Shore she is looking forward to this season.

Throughout the year the team will participate in different events at different schools, as well as some at Lake Shore High School. Here is what some of the members feel about what’s in store for this season.

Sherri Taormina, teacher and coach at Lake Shore High School, said, “A couple of things, we host two meets here. We host on Saturday, January 20th, we’ll host like 51 teams here all day. Our league finals will be an important one, and when we get to regionals or if we qualify for regionals.”

Taormina has had a lot of success as a coach here at Lake Shore, the team and herself would agree that this year is going to be a good one so it doesn’t seem that qualifying for regionals or winning districts is too far out of reach.

Bella Figurski, a senior, said, “I’m really looking forward to our theme, which is End Game. It’s based on the Marvel movie End Game because we’re hoping this season is the end of an era and the start of something great. All of our round words revolve around the theme, so it’s going to be very cool. I’m also looking forward to round 3 because it has all the running, tumbling, and stunts, which is my favorite part.”

Figurski is a senior and another member of the team looking to end the year with a bang, so this is not just her last year to participate but also their best shot to contend for a state championship.

Here is how another member of the team thinks they’re going to finish their season.

Emma Stacey, junior, said, “I think that we have a chance of going to states, we went to regionals last year and I think we’ve even improved since then so if we keep working hard it is definitely possible.”

Everyone on the cheer team this year is very excited for the season to start because they’ve put in a lot of work in the off-season and have improved over the years to get themselves to a state championship. The team has the passion and desire to succeed, so the cheer team this year is going to be something you’re going to have to pay close attention to or you might miss greatness.