It would be understandable to expect a dropoff from the Ellsworth High School cheerleaders after graduating five members of last year’s state Class B championship team. It was the first cheering title in school history.
But that’s not the case.
Even with just one senior and two juniors on this year’s team along with seven sophomores and two freshmen, the Eagles have won all three major competitions leading into Saturday’s state championships at the Augusta Civic Center.
The Class B competition kicks off the state championship meets at 10 a.m. followed by Class C at 1 p.m. and Class A at 4 p.m. There is no Class D for the first time due to a lack of teams and participants.
The Eagles have won the Big East; Penobscot Valley Conference and Class B North regional events so far.
“We have made really great headway since last year,” said Natalie Sawyer, the Ellsworth captain and only senior. “Last year was our first state championship so we didn’t know what to expect. We knew we were going to be good but we didn’t know how we would match up (against the other teams, particularly from the south).
“Now we know what kind of skills could get us the best score and how to put our routine together to make it the most successful one possible. We will be a little bit more prepared,” said Sawyer.
She said the sophomores and freshmen have made a “big difference.
“Everybody is really positive and really clicks together,” said Sawyer. “They have been very respectful of the three of us (upperclassmen). They look up to us which helps a lot. They’re able to keep level heads and know there is more to improve on.”
Co-head coach Melanie Fox said Sawyer deserves a lot of credit for the success of the team.
“She is probably one of the strongest leaders we have ever had,” said Fox, who is in her 10th season along with co-coach Kat (Dickens) Archer. “She really does a great job keeping them all corralled and keeping their heads in the game.”
Sawyer said she expected to take on a lot of responsibilities this year.
“Being the only senior, I knew I had to step up as a leader on this team,” said Sawyer. “Last year, we had five seniors who did a really good job keeping everyone in check.
“They could break up the roles but I had to take on all of their roles. I knew I had big shoes to fill and a lot of responsibilities. And I think I’ve done a pretty good job at it,” Sawyer said.
Fox said despite their youth, it is a “very talented young team. They have a lot of life in them, for sure.
“It is a very well-seasoned group of athletes. Some of them cheer on all-star (gym) teams and some have gymnastics backgrounds. And they are very motivated. They definitely want to defend that title,” said Fox.
She all called them a “very grounded group of athletes. They know they have to work hard every single time they compete.”
That athleticism, talent and competitive drive prompted Fox and Archer to install a more difficult routine than last year’s. It was scripted by a Connecticut choreographer.
“There are more skills I would classify as elite. We had a great routine last year but this one has a little different feel with our skill set this year. It is a little bit harder and very fast-paced,” Fox said.
Sawyer said everyone is looking to add an “extra skill to the routine or to work harder to make it the best we can. It’s really nice to have so much drive from such a young group.”
Being a defending state champ can put additional pressure on a team but Sawyer and the Eagles are embracing it.
“I told the team that pressure is a privilege to have. A lot of other teams will never feel that pressure to repeat as a state champion,” said Sawyer. “It’s nice to have that pressure and know we are good enough to do it again.”
The two juniors on the team are Olivia Leighton and Mount Desert Island transfer Calie Reece.
The sophomores are Noelle Towne, Molly Smith, Lily Alley, Whitney Jordan, Ally Brown, Kaylee Bockus and Sumner High of East Sullivan transfer Sage Bell.
Bockus is a fall cheerleader and didn’t cheer last winter.
The freshmen are Grace Robinson and Katie Clark.
The fall football cheerleading team, composed of several of the winter cheerleaders, entered the fall competition for the first time and won the large schools competition.
Fox said their performance at last Saturday’s regionals “wasn’t our best.
“It was a decent performance. It was a really tough routine. If they hit it solid (at states), they should be pretty secure,” said Fox.
Sawyer is looking forward to the state championships but said it will also be bittersweet.
“I’m excited but I’m also a little sad,” said Sawyer. “It will be my last time cheering as an Eagle. It’s very special to be an Ellsworth cheerleader. It will be a little emotional because it will be the last time I will take the mat with such a terrific group of girls.”
In addition to Ellsworth, the other defending champs are Oxford Hills of South Paris in A and Lisbon-St. Dom’s of Auburn in C.