COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING
Hernando High’s cheerleading squad has made the most of its first year of competing in the Florida High School Athletic Association.
This past Saturday, the Leopards traveled to Bunnell-Flagler Palm Coast High for the Region 2 Competition.
The result: a third-place finish in the Large Coed division and a trip to states Feb. 4 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
“It means everything to us,” Hernando head coach Paulina Decker said. “We’ve worked really, really hard getting there. The team is really excited to go to states for the first time. It’s huge for us to be the first team to be able to go.”
The team includes freshmen Rhyanna Aikman, Kourtney Ellinghuysen, Cheyenne Marshall, Rebecca Ott and Victoria Vernon; sophomores Chelsea Bedson, Cheyenne Bragg, Tyquon Carr, Tayler Day, Elizabeth Decker, Brennon Ertl, Brionna Greene, Shane Gurganus, Sonnie McCleary-Genberg, Robert Millaway, Cody Olander, Justin Roberts, Brittany Spradlin, Lida Steinkamp, Rebecca Toth and Sierra Walsh; and juniors Kaitlin Doty and Wade Patterson.
At regionals, Hernando tallied 43.625 to edge out Orlando-Evans (43) for the final state berth.
Winter Garden-West Orange (73.5) and Orlando-Freedom (70) took first and second.
“They did amazing,” Decker said of her cheerleaders. “All their stunts stuff they didn’t mess up on. It was completely perfect. I actually cried.”
Now the Leopards can prepare for states, hoping for a successful completion to this inaugural FHSAA campaign.
“We’ll adjust to the difficulty a little bit,” Decker said. “We’ll do more coed stunting. States will be a little more difficult. We’ll be going up against every coed team in the state.”
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Weeki Wachee also attended the Region 2 Competition, participating in the Small Non-Tumbling division. The Hornets placed seventh with a score of 56.625.
“We learned a lot,” Weeki Wachee Head Coach Kim Koparan said. “It was our first time putting a whole routine together and the first time we ever competed. They got to see what the goal was.”
Weeki Wachee’s squad features freshmen Samantha Adamson, Kierstyn Fascenda, Monique Helm, Sydney Sizemore and Morgan Van Houten; sophomores Emily Brown, Holly Brumfiel, Cloey Cremeans, Brittany Koparan, Kaitlynn Lillibridge, Alexus McDaniel and Autumn McGovern; and juniors Katelyn Costa and Brittany Longobardi.
All teams in the Hornets’ regional division advanced, thus they will take part in the FHSAA Championships on Feb. 2.
“I just want them to improve upon what they were,” Coach Koparan said. “And do better and prepare for next year.”
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