After missing out on the state finals last year, the Lake Orion varsity competitive cheerleading team hopes to earn a spot this year, by finishing in the top three at the regional competition on March 5.
Coach Nancy deAvila said the team had a ‘disaster day? at the OAA League meet several weeks ago, after receiving a 50-point penalty and combatting injury and illness.
‘We had a major fall in the third round,? she said. ‘We came out with two girls injured, and we went into winter break with injury and illness.?
DeAvila opted to have her team skip the following competition, Delta Plex, and they instead competed at Chesaning on Feb. 19, where Lake Orion took sixth.
‘We had a really good day,? said deAvila. ‘We had season-high scores in the second and third rounds.?
On Feb. 26, the Dragons competed in the Stoney Creek Invite, taking third place behind Hartland and Brighton.
‘We beat Stoney Creek, and they are in our region,? said deAvila. ‘I feel confident that we have a really good shot (at regionals).?
DeAvila’s goal is to have her team place second, after they placed fourth last year.
‘Athens and Stoney Creek will be our biggest rivals,? she said. ‘We beat Athens at our invitational, but we lost to them at Oxford and the league meet.?
DeAvila said the team has since recovered from their illness and injuries, and will be strong for the regional.
‘It will be a fight to the finish,? she said. ‘The third round will be the deciding factor.
‘I think they’ve been able to see themselves consistently improving, scoring-wise, and in confidence,? deAvila said. ‘We know where we are strong, and where our rivals strengths are.?
The Lake Orion varsity team had been regional champions for eight consecutive years before their region was changed last season.
‘We also graduated 15 seniors the year before…We were really in a rebuilding year,? deAvila said. ‘This year, those freshmen are sophomores, and we have a lot of talent in the sophomore class.
‘They are starting to understand the tradition of Lake Orion cheerleading,? she said.