Medomak Valley cheerleaders placed 2nd to Waterville in the KVAC championships, held at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday. The Panthers improved their score by 30 points over last year to earn the coveted Jamie Beth Shibel award, for the most improved cheering squad in the conference. Medomak scored 112.8, just 11 short of Waterville, who were 3rd in the state last year.
“They beat us only in tumbling. We matched them in everything else. To come that close to a team that is that great, I’m pretty proud of them,” coach Rachel Coor said of her team.
The KVAC championship was a one round event with no call backs.
Waterville had 11 returning cheerleaders with just one new member to last year’s banner team. Medomak on the other hand, with a new coach, had 15 new members to the squad with just four returning.
“They are really motivated. It is always tough when a new coach comes in with new methods and expectations,” Coor said “The new coach came in with a clean slate and they all have really adapted well.”
Coor coached for 8 years at Rockland and two in Denver, Co. before coming to Medomak this season.
“You always hope your best is better than everyone else’s best. I’m really proud of them. They have worked really, really hard,” she said.
The Panthers travel to Bangor on Sat., Nov. 24 to compete in the Eastern Maine Class B Regionals. The event starts at 2 p.m. Medomak will perform 17th, and Coor estimates they will be on deck at around 3:50 p.m. The top six at Regionals qualify for the State meet.
“Historically the top two to three from KVAC’s qualify for states. You have to have a perfect day. You absolutely have to have a perfect day,” Coor said.
Lincoln Academy did not compete at the KVAC’s because they had four cheerleaders come down with the flu at the end of the week, which did no leave enough time to redo the routine.
