LHS Cheerleading Places Fifth At State Finals

LEMONT, IL — Lemont High School’s cheerleading program placed fifth at the 2019 IHSA Medium Division Cheerleading State Finals, which were contested at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington on Feb. 1-2. Head coach Dave Erlenbaugh’s squad, which had won the previous two state championships, made the program’s 14th straight state finals appearance.

The school said LHS cheerleading has cemented its place among the most successful programs – regardless of the sport – in IHSA history. Lemont has reached the state finals 14 times in as many years, picked up 12 state trophies, and never placed lower than fifth in state finals competition. Lemont’s six state championships and 12 state trophies each are the most for any IHSA cheerleading program.

According to LHS, Lemont posted a score of 87.61 in the final round of competition to place behind IHSA State Champion Grayslake Central (90.09), Oak Forest (89.39), Antioch (89.03) and Crystal Lake Central (88.47). Lemont’s preliminary round score of 87.31 was fourth among 25 teams.

Lemont’s cheerleading squad is one of only two athletic programs in school history to win an IHSA team state championship, having done so in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2018, the school said. The Indians also finished as state runners-up in 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2016, and brought home third-place trophies in 2006 and 2012.

Erlenbaugh’s team includes seniors Juliana DeSantis, Morgan Divis, Marissa Loisi, Kate Roenitz and Alison Tasso; juniors Hailey Dennis, Kyra Feltz, Haley Nash, Olivia Nelson, Claire O’Malley, Jenna Valenti and Morgan Wrublik; sophomores Emily Gomulka, Hannah Nagel, Angelina Rita and Alyiah Ward; and freshmen Abigail Cliff, Daleigh Johnson-Pawlak, Kaya Myrda and Skylar Yabush.

Photo provided by Lemont High School.