Senior Julie Bucio is part of the rebirth of Coupeville High School’s competition cheer squad. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
The Wolves celebrate their 2nd place finish Saturday at “Battle at the Border” in Vancouver. (Erika Hoffmire photos)
Enjoying the moment are: back row (left to right): Mica Shipley, Ashleigh Battaglia, coach BreAnna Boon, Bella Velasco, and Coral Caveness. Front: Kim Castro, Emily Fiedler, Ja’Tarya Hoskins, Bucio, and Marenna Rebischke-Smith.
Leaps and bounds.
The Coupeville High School cheer squad, which recently returned to competition after a seven-year absence, has caught the attention of the judges.
The Wolves have been to three meets now, winning awards each time, but it’s been their improvement on the score cards which has been the biggest bonus.
Saturday, CHS headed back to the bus with a 2nd place trophy for their work in the Small Game Day division at the “Battle at the Border” in Vancouver.
That gives the Wolves two 2nds and a 3rd during their brief rebirth.
Even bigger, they scored a 60, which is just five points shy of earning them a trip to state, and is a whopping 19 points up from what they posted at their first competition.
“That’s when they really started screaming and jumping up and down!,” said CHS coach BreAnna Boon. “Knowing that they got that close (to state) was more exciting for them than the trophy!
“This weekend I watched them bloom into a completely different squad,” she added. “They finally saw what I have always seen in them!”
It’s a feeling shared by her cheerleaders.
“I could not be prouder of my team,” said captain Ja’Tarya Hoskins. “This year is our year, to show all the kids at our school that we aren’t just dumb cheerleaders who cheer for just football and basketball.”
While they’re still very involved as a sideline squad, the core of the Wolf cheer team has doubled up in recent weeks, putting in tremendous effort to get ready for their competitions.
“Every week we have to change our routine, based on the judges critiques,” Boon said. “This week we only had two days to completely change everything. They learned a whole new dance, put a new song to their routine, and learned a new cheer.
“As a coach my job is to look at those score sheets and critiques, and apply that to our routine so we can meet the ultimate goal of competing at state,” she added. “I wish I could put into words how hard these cheerleaders have been working.
“There is nothing that can describe their level of intensity when they get to practice.”
Nine Wolves took the mats Saturday, with a tenth, Melia Welling, there in spirit if not in body.
“We have bonded and became family and it showed on that blue mat!,” said captain Mica Shipley. “I’ve never been more proud of those beautiful ladies.”
Coupeville Sports 