Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Miramar wins school’s first state title
When it comes to the FHSAA state cheerleading competition, you can always expect Broward and Palm Beach County teams to be in the hunt and this year was no different.
West Broward, Dillard, and Miramar all brought home state titles from the FHSAA state cheerleading championships at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville this past weekend. Three-time defending state champion Park Vista finished fourth in the Class 2A Small Division finals.
Since the sport was sanctioned in 2008, West Broward, Coral Glades, King’s Academy (six state titles each), Dillard (four), Park Vista (three) Coral Springs, Coral Springs Charter, Stranahan, Jupiter (two each), Miramar, South Plantation, Seminole Ridge, Suncoast, Cardinal Gibbons and Wellington have combined for 39 state championships.
Miramar won its first state title in cheerleading as it scored 90.00 to win the Class 2A Small Non-Tumbling Division.
“It has been a great year for us,” said Miramar coach Tanya Jones by phone. “The girls worked so hard all year and it has finally paid off. We made history by winning districts, regional, and now state. I couldn’t be prouder of the girls.”
Patriots senior captain Shakayla White was equally excited about her team’s performance.
“I’m just so happy for my team, my coach, and my school,” White said. “It’s unbelievable that we just won a state championship. Words can’t express how I feel right now.”
West Broward won its second consecutive state championship in taking the Class 2A Medium Non-Tumbling Division with 90.10 points. Stoneman Douglas was third in the division with 86.30 points.
“These kids have worked so hard this season,” said West Broward cheerleading coach Danielle Culbertson, who won from 2011-13 as a cheerleader at the school. This is her sixth year as coach. “With only six veterans out of 15 on the mat, these kids put in the work, day in and day out. This win feels extra special to me personally because the last time we went back-to-back it was my senior year as a Bobcat athlete.”
“Being a part of this program these past four years has been a life-changing experience but nothing compares to this year and this team,” said Bobcats senior cheerleader Izabella Garcia, who won her third state title. “We faced adversity and persevered through anything that was thrown at us. I couldn’t have asked for a better to team to win with.”
Dillard won the Class 2A Large Non-Tumbling Division with 91.10 points. Lake Brantley was a distant second with 84.90 points ahead of Coral Glades (75.30), Piper (75.20), and Olympic Heights (70.00).
Dillard nearly didn’t make it out of regionals after one of the
cheerleaders sustained an ankle injury during the routine. The Panthers left the mat but returned to compete before the session was over. They reached the state meet and needed a good score in the semifinals to advance to the championship round and delivered a first-place effort of 83.30.
“The story of perseverance looks different for most, but for us, it’s a story of overcoming grave trials,” said Dillard coach Ernest Merrell, whose team incurred injury after injury (six, with no alternates to
rely on) up until the night before state. “Our faith didn’t waver… we just needed one more opportunity and we got it. We finished our preliminary division in first place with an 83.30.
“That was all the motivation we needed,” he added. “It was time to go into finals and just have fun, and they did just that. We peaked at the right time. They left their hearts on that mat and they did it together.”
Three-time defending state champion Park Vista finished fourth in the Small Division finals
with 82.70 points. Windermere won the state title with 85.40 points. Jupiter finished seventh with 77.25 points.
Three local teams finished in second place in their respective divisions. Monarch was runner-up in the Class 2A Medium Coed Division with 69.50, while Seminole Ridge was runner-up in the Class 2A Large Coed Division (78.20). Wellington claimed runner-up in the Class 2A Extra Large Non-Tumbling Division with 85.80 points. Lakeland won
with 87.40
Coral Springs Charter captured third place in the Small Co-Ed Division, just one point behind the winning score of 80.20 set by Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach). Hernando (Brooksville) was second with a 79.40 score.
First-year Panthers coach McKenzie Palumbo was happy with her team’s effort. The team improved by nine points since the regional competition, as they incorporated some extra tumbling and spent more time cleaning up the routine to maximize the scores they could.
“It was the best performance they’ve given this entire season,” Palumbo said by phone. “I wouldn’t change a single thing and I can’t imagine you’ll be able to find a more pleased coach.
“It was tough, but we aren’t forgetting how we felt when we finished our routine,” she added. “It’s just one of those things that come with this sport.”
Western was fourth in the Class 2A Medium Varsity Division with 80.90 points.
Suncoast was fourth in the state in the Class 1A Medium Non-Tumbling Division with 73.20 points. Auburndale won the state championship in that division with 83.50 points.
King’s Academy, which has won six state championships, the last coming in 2019, finished fourth in the Small Co-Ed division semifinal and failed to reach the finals. The Lions were state runner-up in the Class 1A Small Non-Tumbling Division last year.