2015 Western Maine Class B cheering champions, Medomak Valley. Panther cheerleaders include (front from left) Megan Linscott, Gabby Ruano, Paige Russell, Shania Melvin, Ashlee Wilson, Olivia Ryan, Taylor Griffin, Samantha Pelkey, (back) Coach Heather Simmons, Casey Wagner, Ashley Kenniston, Courtney Ducharme, Megan Libby, Adrianna Wadsworth, Gage Ruano, Cassie Dever, Hannah Smith, Amanda Poland, Megan Wright, Stephanie Hill, and Assistant Coach Rachel Coor. Panther mascot Jared Mank is laying down in front of the cheerleaders. (Carrie Reynolds photo) |
The Panther King and Queens of cheerleading were back Monday night as they reigned supreme, winning their fifth straight regional championship, successfully defending their
West Class B cheering title at the Augusta Civic Center, despite a 10 point deduction.
Medomak scored 133.1 (after the 10 point deduction), followed by 2. Leavitt 132.6, 3. Wells 123.7, 4. Morse 108.9, 5. Lake Region 107, 6. Gray New-Gloucester 104.9,
7. Freeport 101.2, 8. Fryeburg 94.8, 9. Lincoln Academy 91, 10. Poland 87.8, 11. Oak Hill 86.1, 12. Greely 84.4 and 13. Spruce Mountain 75.4.
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Medomak Valley shows off their West Class B championship form Monday night. (Carrie Reynolds photo) |
Coach Heather Simmons said the 10 point deduction was for inattentive spotters. “We have been very careful,” Simmons said, as the “handling has to be very specific. We have
practiced and watched it and knew it was correct. We will go back and make sure the side person does not touch her (flyer) foot, because if she does, she becomes a base and then
you need a back spot. I am not sure what they (judges) saw.
A second deduction was on a pyramid. “Gage (Ruano) was pressing a flyer up by himself. They said our spotter was too far away. It is a judgment call. We will
definitely be fixing those before the state championships,” Simmons said.
Simmons said Medomak’s score of 143.1, before deductions, was “exactly where we wanted to be; better than KVACs.”
“It was a large penalty to place with. We told them when we came out (of the coaches meeting) that we were pretty sure we would qualify for states but did not know
how we would place” due to the 10 point deduction. “It was a roller coaster of emotions,” Simmons said.
Midway through the Panthers’ routine, there was a music miscue when their Elvis Presley based music skipped. “The kids stayed right on beat. If the music is off a
half second, it can throw everything else off, but they got back on beat just like it didn’t happen,” Simmons said.
“We had one bobble in the beginning of the routine, but other than that it was solid. They had a lot of energy. They are much happier with how they performed,” than
at KVACs Simmons said
Unlike last year, when the Panthers reworked their entire routine right before states, Medomak is not planning any changes in their routine, other fixing spotting
issues, as they prepare. The State Class B championships will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Augusta Civic Center. The Panthers will be performing in the morning session.
“We are going to keep to our game plan, to focus on stunting,” Simmons said. “We want to perform the stunts at a better execution. That is what we did all week long,
hitting our stuff, not getting bobbles and having confidence.”
“We have to go back and look at the score sheets, and address the inattentive spotters so it is very clear they are not breaking the rules. We cannot afford 10
points at a state championship. We are going to just continue to work on a perfect performance. That is what we need at the state championships,” Simmons said.
“I’ve been really impressed with our kids all week. Every week they have come through and done everything they have been asked to do. They are very coachable. We are
very happy with their progress,” Simmons added.
Medomak has won five regional titles, three KVAC titles, but a state championship has thus far eluded them. The Panthers hope to rock their ‘King is Back’ routine to
their very first state title.
Cheering for the Panthers are seniors Shania Melvin, Ashlee Wilson, Olivia Ryan, Paige Russell, and Taylor Griffin; juniors Cassie Dever, Stephanie Hill, Casey
Wagner, Amanda Poland, Gabrielle Ruano, and Megan Linscott; sophomores Gage Ruano, Devin Dupois, Hannah Smith, Megan Libby, and Courtney Ducharme; and freshmen Samantha Pelkey,
Adrianna Wadsworth, Ashley Kenniston, and Megan Wright. The team is coached by Heather Simmons, and assisted by Rachel Coor.
