The varsity cheer team opened their competition season with a promising start, taking second place at their first invitational of the year, hosted by Oakdale High School.

Building on that early momentum, the squad continued their preseason with the FSK Invitational on Oct. 21, using each performance as a stepping stone toward their larger goals. Just two days later, on Oct. 23, the team held their home showcase in the main gym at this school, a patriotic sendoff before heading into the most high stakes stretch of their season.

The team entered the D1 County Cheerleading Championship (Counties) on Oct.25 at Montgomery Blair with a routine packed with upgrades. Competing in the Class 3A division, the Patriots were the first team to perform, setting the tone for the night. “I think counties was one of our best performances of the year,” senior captain Jenny Brailovsky said.

The following week, the Patriots competed at the Class 3A Regional Championship on Nov. 1 at Harford Community College. Performing at 1:48 p.m., the team brought determination to the mat after a demanding week of adjustments.

This season, the Patriots pushed themselves to elevate every category of their performance, with a particular focus on high-level inversion for stunting and twisting skills. These advanced elements raised not only the degree of difficulty but also the expectations. Consistency became the team’s biggest challenge and repetition was key. The early season invitationals served as trial runs, helping the team refine technique and build confidence heading into the competitions that truly determine the postseason: Counties and Regionals.

Last year, the Patriots broke a six-year drought and qualified for States, where they finished fourth, a milestone that fueled this year’s determination. At counties this season, the team delivered a strong routine. However, the final rankings reflected the competitive depth of the county, with Damascus finishing first, Sherwood second, Quince Orchard third, Churchill fourth and the Patriots in fifth.

Following counties, the coaching staff and team made the strategic decision to reduce the competitive roster from 14 athletes to nine. In cheer, a smaller team can sometimes produce a higher score if those athletes are able to execute elite-level skills with precision. With just one week to rebuild and relearn their competition routine, the athletes worked hard to adapt. “I think this year we worked most on being prepared because we have a new coach since last season and we had a new work ethic,” junior captain Winnie Kelly said.

By the time regionals arrived, the Patriots showed grit and growth in their new formation. Although the routine demonstrated strength and potential, a few falls ultimately kept them just shy of qualifying for States this year,

While the season didn’t end with the return to states the team hoped for, the Patriots’ journey was defined by perseverance and a commitment to pushing their limits. “I think we did better than we have before in competitions and this is the curve we were looking for. I’m looking forward to seeing the team build strong connections and working as a team to achieve the goals we talk about for next year,” senior captain Lucy Garner said.