By Corbyn Aquino
A wave of sickness, lingering injuries, and even an unexpected suspension.
After preparing for the state championship competition all year, the cheer team had all the unanticipated obstacles in front of them.
Sophomore Malia Schwartz was stuck in the emergency room the day before competing with immobilizing stomach pains.
“I knew I couldn’t let my team down and had to find a way to compete on Saturday,” Schwartz said.
After pushing through she found a way to compete on the mat the next day with her team.
Four others on the team were also struck with illnesses the week of the competition, but that could not stop the girls’ determination for the win.
Sophomore Alexa Bratton pushed through an ankle injury after not being able to tumble outside of competition days.
“I had confidence in my tumbling since I’ve done it so long and I knew that it was gonna hit,” Bratton said.
Bratton’s injury was just one of many of the season. Junior Stella Sieber suffered from a major shoulder injury that led to not knowing if she would compete at all this season. Schwartz and freshman Mabrey Williams also battled ankle injuries.
If that isn’t enough to stop them, the team had an unexpected suspension over fall break that limited the team from practicing together as a whole unit.
However, senior Brylee Beckley took on the leader role by setting up extra practices for the team outside of school.
After battling through thick and thin the team found a way to emerge victorious. On Oct. 19, the cheer team won the Hoosier Cheer Coaches Association state championship in the traditional performance category for Class 3A.
The team also made history by bringing home their first-ever Hoosier Heritage Conference championship in school history.
But this isn’t the seniors’ first taste of success. Their freshman year in 2021-22 they also placed first at state for their traditional routine.
“This one (state championship) is a lot more meaningful to the seniors because of how hard we had to work to get there,” senior Lindsey Lynch said.
Due to a lack of positions at tryouts, many of the girls had to step out of their comfort zone and learn a new position. Beckley had to drop her position at flyer and become a back spot. Senior Chloe Newsome learned to become a side base after only tumbling last year, and three freshmen on the mat were competing in their first year of high school cheer.
The championship was Coach Lynde Bratton’s second state title and eighth time in her nine years of coaching in which her team has placed on the state podium. Coach Bratton believes that this state title is one of her most special due to being able to do it with her daughter, Alexa.
Going into the season the cheer team set their motto as unfinished business. In the previous season, they had a joke that their competitions were business trips. But after falling short and placing third at state in the 2023-2024 season, they decided that unfinished business would be a good motto.
Now that the business is finished, the team and Coach Bratton believe that this competition season has come to a special ending.
“It really is a dream team and they make coaching fun,” Coach Bratton said.
