DENVER — A busy day at the 2022-23 state spirit championships concluded when seven more titles were won on Friday at The Denver Coliseum.
Competing on the second day were the 2A/3A, 4A and 5A Co-Ed Cheer divisions, as well as the 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A All-Girl Cheer competitions.
4A & 5A All-Girl Cheer
The Erie Tigers maintained their all-girl cheer dynasty, capturing a fifth-straight championship with a dominating 93.95 finals score. It is the seventh spirit title in program history.
"It's huge for us," Erie head coach Nora Roth said. "We really pushed ourselves beyond our limits this year. This is the toughest routine we've ever put on the floor and, ultimately, it paid off. We put a lot on the line and it was nerve-wracking and the girls were definitely nervous, but they came out on top. We're really proud."
Holy Family took runner-up honors, it's third second place finish in its spirit history. The Tigers have a cheer title back in 2004. The other finalists were Grand Junction in third, Lewis-Palmer in fourth, Standley Lake in fifth, Wheat Ridge in sixth, and Aurora Central in seventh.
In 5A, Douglas County returned to the top with its second cheer title in three years, and its seventh overall. The Huskies scored a 94.1 in the finals to barely edge out second place Grandview, who scored a 93. This marks back-to-back runner-up finishes for the Wolves.
"Just bringing it back was huge," Huskies co-head coach Scott Borgmier said. "Last year, we didn't have success in kind of a dramatic fashion, so it was nice to earn it. It was really nice to earn it. These girls and us (coaches) just wanted to go out there and put on a show."
Added co-head head coach Lauren Borgmier, "I think this year was really special because we lost eight seniors last year. Losing eight athletes out of fifteen is a lot of getting locked and reloaded. We told the girls from day one that this is not a rebuilding year, we are just reloading. I think they really took that to heart."
Third place also scored over a 90, as Fossil Ridge totaled a 92.55. Rounding out the finalists were Legend in fourth, Chaparral in fifth, Cherokee Trail in sixth, and Mountain Vista in seventh.
2A & 3A All-Girl Cheer
After waiting 21 years between spirit titles, Denver Christian did not wait that long this time, as the Thunder captured the 2022 title to mark back-to-back 2A cheer championships. The Thunder put up an 82.45 to run away with the title. It is the third spirit championship in program history, the first coming in 3A in 2000.
"I think it was different than last year because last year, it was a brand new team," Denver Christian head coach Gina Harris said. "They had never, ever competed at a competition or been cheerleaders before last year. So, it was new for them. They all came back this year and I think they felt some of that pressure to really step up because they knew what they have in them. We had a lot of injuries throughout the season and sicknesses, but they came out on top."
The first-year Timnath Cubs took runner-up with a 69.8, while Limon took third with a 69.25.
In 3A, Woodland Park captured its program's first ever spirit title, as they scored an 81.05 to win the all-girl cheer title. It was a welcome finish for the Panthers after finishing runner-up last season.
Behind them were James Irwin, who earned their third runner-up finish in program history. Rounding out the finalists were University in third, and Strasburg in fourth.
2A/3A, 4A & 5A Co-Ed Cheer
A pair of dynasties continued in 2A/3A and 4A co-ed cheer.
Coal Ridge captured its fifth-straight 2A/3A championship, as they dominated with an 88.85 final score. It is the sixth overall spirit title for the Titans. Runner-up was DSST: Byers, as the Falcons earned their first ever spirit top-two finish.
"We have a really special team this year. Our boys are pretty incredible and added a lot to our team," Coal Ridge head coach Alyssa Thurmon said. "Their chemistry and what they brought was amazing. More of them are new, but they did everything I asked. Cheer is kind of a taboo sport for boys and they just came in and gave it everything they have."
Thompson Valley kept its stranglehold on the 4A co-ed classification, as the Eagles won its fourth-straight championship with a final score of 85.1. It is the sixth spirit title in program history. Runner-up was Roosevelt, with an 82.7, while third went to Grand Junction Central.
"It's awesome. It's awesome with every group of kids," Eagles head coach Shari Robinson said. "We've got nine seniors this year and not one of them was on the mat when they were freshmen. They won JV state that year. They've worked through our program and believed in themselves and their coaches and their teammates. I feel like the pressure mounts every year because everyone puts a target on your back, but it's been a fun four years with them."
Finally, 5A co-ed saw a new champion, as Vista Ridge took home the hardware for the first time in program history. It was a welcome outcome for the Wolves after finishing runner-up the past two seasons.
"It was just the right kids at the right time," Vista Ridge head coach Nikkole Weir said. "We've worked really hard this year. The kids have all just given all they have. I honestly could not be more proud of them."
The Wolves scored a big 93.4 in the finals, while ThunderRidge took second with an 88.9. Pueblo West took third to round out the classification.
