Lemont Cheerleading Headed Back to IHSA State Finals, Seeks 4th Straight Title
The three-time defending IHSA Medium Division State Champion Lemont High School cheerleading squad will have a chance for a fourth consecutive crown. The Indians finished second in the Medium Division at the IHSA Joliet Central Sectional on Saturday, January 28, to earn their seventh IHSA State Finals berth in as many seasons. Lemont, which has posted a top-three finish in each of its six state finals appearances - including IHSA Medium Division State Championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011 - will compete in the 2012 IHSA Cheerleading State Finals, which will be held at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, Ill., on Friday, February 3, and Saturday, February 4.
After finishing third in the 2006 IHSA State Finals, Lemont was the state runner-up in both 2007 and 2008 before breaking through to win consecutive titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Lemont’s cheerleading squad is the only program in school history to win a team state championship.
The preliminary rounds for both the Small and Medium Divisions will begin at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, with entries from the two divisions alternating. The finals for the Medium Division will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, with the awards ceremony scheduled to follow at 1:15 p.m.
Led by coach Brittany Glowa, the Indians qualified for the 2012 IHSA State Finals by posting a score of 83.00, which trailed only IHSA Sectional Champion and fellow South Suburban Conference school Oak Forest, which totaled 87.67. Two other SSC schools - Tinley Park (82.83) and Bremen (80.57) - followed in third and fourth, respectively, while Lincoln-Way West (80.40) finished fifth and also qualified for the state finals.
Tickets for the IHSA State Finals will be available at the door, and are $10 for both children and adults (children in hand are free) each session. Tickets may also be purchased on-line at www.uscellularcoliseum.com, or by phone at (309) 434-2679; service fees may apply to Internet or phone orders.
Cheerleading is the fourth Lemont High School athletic program to compete at the state level this year. The boys’ golf team finished third in the IHSA Class 2A State Finals; the girls’ cross country squad was 21st at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals; and senior Emily
Lejman competed at the IHSA Class AA Girls’ Golf State Finals.
