LHS Cheerleading Wins Sectional, Earns State Finals Berth

LEMONT, IL — For the 13th straight season, Lemont High School's cheerleading squad is headed back to the final weekend of competition. The program, which already has five state championships, earned a berth to the state finals with a first place win at sectional.

The school said the Indians won the Medium Division at the IHSA Andrew Sectional on Jan. 27, marking their first sectional crown since 2010. Lemont will be looking for its sixth state title when it takes the floor at the 2018 IHSA Medium Division Cheerleading State Finals, which will be contested at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington on Friday, Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 3. According to the school, Lemont has won 11 state trophies in 12 previous state finals appearances, and never has finished lower than fourth in state finals competition.

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 and 2017. 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.

Coach Dave Erlenbaugh’s Indians made a statement in sectional competition, topping their closest competitor by more than three points after posting a score of 90.71. The school said Oak Forest (87.56), Tinley Park (81.56), Marian Catholic (77.00) and Chicago Brooks (76.00) rounded out the Medium Division state qualifiers from the IHSA Andrew Sectional. Lemont, Oak Forest and Tinley Park all are members of the South Suburban Conference.

Lemont’s previous IHSA Sectional titles came in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

The team team includes seniors Gia Baldassano, Katie Boyle, Andrew Gonzalez, Julie Hughes, Natalie Kearney, Claudia Kociubinski, Marissa May and Stephanie Pinczes; juniors Lizzie Adell, Juliana DeSantis, Morgan Divis, Olivia Guzy, Marissa Loisi, Kate Roenitz, Abby Ryan and Alison Tasso; sophomores Olivia Nelson, Claire O’Malley and Morgan Wrublik; and freshman Alyiah Ward.

The school said preliminary rounds for both the Small and Medium Divisions will begin at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, with entries from the two divisions alternating. The finals for the Medium Division will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, with the awards ceremony scheduled to follow at 1:15 p.m.

Tickets for the IHSA State Finals will be available at the door, and are $10 for both children and adults (children in hand are free) each session.

Photo provided by Lemont High School.