Local schools competed at the state spirit competition in The Pit on April 6, and had the opportunity to show off their cheer routines in front of parents and fans at the statewide competition.
Española Valley placed 11th in 4A with a score of 152.97. They scored 79.33 in game day cheer and 73.63 in their cheer with music. And while their placement was the same, they increased their score by 21 points from the year before.
“They had a successful season altogether,” said Española coach TatyAna Quintana. “They had a lot more successes as a season versus the way that they did at state. This is probably the strongest they’ve been in terms of a team and working together.”
Quintana pointed to strong tournaments in the weeks leading up to state in Las Cruces, and at St. Pius X, where they finished in second place, closely behind Taos.
Taos, just up the road from Española, was the overall champion in 4A with a score of 179.67. The Sundevils often see the Tiger cheer team at district games and competitions.
“It gives them a little more motivation, and it helps us establish a serious program,” Quintana said.
In November, the Sundevils sent a pair of cheerleaders — senior Adriana Wilder and freshman Neveah Ortega — to New York as they were part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They described the event as a transformational experience.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experience for them,” Quintana said. She said she is hoping for more students from Española to qualify in the future.
Wilder is the team’s lone senior this year, and Quintana hopes to continue building a stronger program with the returning cheerleaders.
Pojoaque Valley finished in 10th place with a score of 154.03.
“I was super proud of our team,” Pojoaque coach Cassie Martinez said. “They hit their routines very good”
Martinez said that if it had not been for 15 points of deductions, the Elkettes would have been in third place, and gotten a green trophy to take home. She said she and the team had not realized that one of their stunts was illegal.
“We were really prepared this year,” she said. “The whole team just went in with super good attitudes. That whole feeling of being prepared was super helpful.”
Pojoaque’s Lauryn Branch was selected as an all-american and traveled to London in the winter as part of the program.
“It was an honor for her,” Martinez said. “She was so thankful for the opportunity. She was so excited about it. Our team supported her 100 percent. We were so excited that one of our girls got to go out there and experience that.”
In A-2A, Escalante placed seventh with a total score of 150.47 — they were just three points behind third place. Maxwell was the champion in A-2A, and Questa finished second.
Escalante team captain Arial Maldonado received a scholarship for $1,000 for the El Richards/Frances Walsh Spirit Scholarship presented by Varsity Spirit. She was presented with the scholarship from the New Mexico Activities Association at The Pit during halftime a boys basketball 2A semifinal game.
The McCurdy cheer team placed 14th with a score of 139.8. They scored 72.43 on the game day cheer and 67.37 on cheer with music.
The week of the state spirit competition, Española and McCurdy combined to host a community showcase for both teams’ performances.