STOCKTON >> After a near-miss runner-up finish at the 2018 JAMZ Cheer and Dance Nationals in late February in Las Vegas, the Lower Lake High School Competitive Cheer Team wasn’t going to let anything get in its way Saturday at the Northern California Challenge Cup 2018 in Stockton.
It was the season-closing event for Lower Lake and the final time its four seniors — Alejandra Horan, Adrianna Illia, Haylee Wade and Rudy Rincon — would compete for the Trojans.
“They felt like they let the seniors down,” Lower Lake assistant coach Joshua Wade said of the reaction of the other team members after the JAMZ Nationals in Las Vegas.
That wasn’t the only motivations for the Trojans as they wrapped up their season.
“Second place stings the most,” Wade said. “You’re left with that feeling that if you had just worked a little harder, it might have made the difference. You beat yourself up more when you finish second compared to 10th.”
And the Trojans, following their Las Vegas finish, immediately went to work on any and all weaknesses in their routine, practicing them every day for the better part of six weeks.
“That’s one of the things I love about this team,” Wade said. “Every single one of them has bought into the program. We’ve spent every single practice since Nationals working on our weak spots.”
And the final payout came on Saturday when Lower Lake topped the field in the Level 2 division with a winning score of 93.9 (out of a possible 100).
“It finally all came together,” Wade said.
In addition to receiving a championship banner, the Trojans received individual rings for their win. They also brought home a trophy for the best jump sequence during the competition.
“It’s the only competition that gives out rings,” Wade said. “All the division champions receive rings.”
In addition to seniors Horan, Illia, Wade and Rincon, other team members competing in Stockton were Amber Jones, Summer Baxter, Carley Pesonen, Destynee Mittelstedt, Hannah Pankratz, Brooke Landgraf, Dallas Kuckowicz and Patti McCleery, led by head coach Angie Wade.
“It was the last time they going to walk off that competition floor and we wanted the seniors to finish on top,” Wade said. “I’m really happy it ended that way.
“It’s been a really fun year. The kids have made it a pleasurable year for us,” Wade added. “They’ve shown tremendous growth.”
