Carterville Lions did it again, by making it to state for the 10th year in a row. These girls and guy worked hard from May of last year up until now to make it to this point. With many wins at competitions, they qualified for state again.
After all these months of practice all summer and 5 days a week during the school months. Their hard work paid off, and they reached there goal.
The Carterville High School band and student body did a sendoff for the team on Thursday, February 6. From there the team took to the road to Bloomington, IL. When they got there, they practiced before there first round of State, Friday February 7.
They got up early the next day to practice more before they took the floor at in the morning. They took the mat and did pretty good placing in the top ten qualifying them for day two.
The team practiced more and completed the next day competing against alongside the best of the best in the state. They finished in 5th place out of ten other teams in the final round. “These kids make me so proud every single day. Their talent and dedication to this sport is truly inspiring and their hard work does not go unnoticed” said assistant coach Amy Bastien.
“I am honored to have had the opportunity to compete at state both days one and two for all 3 years of my high school career! The feeling of hearing the name “Carterville” be called out as the top 10 in State always fills me with an overwhelming amount of pride” said junior Addy Horn.
The team will continue doing sidelines for boys basketball form the remainder of the season and will start open gyms starting in May.
Three team members were announced to the All-State team. Senior Mercedes Levesque, junior Charlotte Williams (11), and sophomore Hayden Harmon were selected from Carterville.
There was also a new addition to the seniors on the team this year. Senior Malachi McGee was the first guy in school history to join the Carterville High School cheer team alongside doing track and football. He has been a major help to the team. “It motivated me to do better being one of the first males to show boys can do it to and excel at it, and I hope others try new things like I have this year” said senior Malachi McGee.
This team works hard, and it goes unnoticed by many. Cheer is known for being a sport that doesn’t require a lot of effort but that isn’t true. They work all year long being they only get a two to three month break out of the whole year. Keeping up their hard work, time, and effort dedicated to their cheer life, Carterville cheer will continue to have a strong tradition of excellence.
