The cheer team. / Courtesy photo
On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High cheerleaders won their 26th straight Patriot League title, edging out Duxbury.
They did it again.
On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High cheerleaders won their 26th straight Patriot League title, edging out Duxbury.
“It feels great,” said W-H head coach Alyssa Hayes.
“Having a high standing within the league and the teams we see over and over all year is a very accomplishing feeling; everyone works so hard.”
However, Hayes said she doesn’t want the program’s reputation to overshadow what goes on behind the scenes.
“One of our mantras this season has been the idea that the legacy was built from the ground up and takes hard work, grit, determination, long hours, whatever is needed to uphold,” Hayes said. “It isn’t something that is deserved because you’re a Whitman-Hanson cheerleader; it is something that is earned through many hours of heart.”
The win came after placing second at the Braintree Invitational the week before.
“We had a long and hard week for sure,” Hayes said. “We changed our routine due to a couple of injuries, reworked stunts and sections of the routine based on scores from the first competition, and really just put our heads down and did the work that was needed to come out on top at the league championship.”
Hayes said the goal between now and regionals (Nov. 17) is to become secure in the skills that are in the routine and start perfecting them as best possible.
“Ideally, it is not a time for changes but instead a time to become as close to consistency and perfection as we can be,” she said.
The Panthers — who are captained by seniors Kaylee Diehl, Ryley Hurley and junior Savannah Poirier — are back on the mat this Sunday, Nov. 3 at home at 2 p.m., as they host the Panther Invitational.
“In cheerleading, and most sports, there’s that idea of “peaking” too early,” Hayes said. “Right now, the goal is to continue to improve all the way into [states] and never hit that moment of stagnancy.”