Carterville Lions did it again, 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 the point they are at now. With many 1st place 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. There hard work paid off and they reached there goal.
They got sent off by the Carterville High School band on Thursday February the 13th where they took the road to Bloomington. When they got there they would practice before there first round of State, Friday February 14th.
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 meaning they would make it to day two.
They practiced more and completed the next day competing against alongside the best of the best in the state including themselves. They finished with a 5th place win out of ten other teams. 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.” Assistant Coach Amy Bastien.
Carterville for the past decade has had and made the opportunity to qualify for State. Meaning many all of the girls have made it to state every year. “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.” Addy Horn (11).
The girls and guy will continue doing sidelines for boys basketball of the remainder of the season and will start open gyms starting in may. In preparation for the next season so they can come back to there goal every year of making it to State.
Alongside there team making it to state and getting fifth place three of there girls got announced to be All State. Mercedes levesque (12), Charlotte Williams (11), and Hayden Harmon (10). Where selected from Cartersville team to be on the all state team.
With this year there was also a new addition to the seniors of the team. 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 and has been doing great when coming to back spotting. “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.” Malachi Mcgee (12)
These girls and guy work 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.
For the future the hope is the girls will continue to make state. Keeping up there hard work, time, and effort dedicated to there cheer life.
