Spirit: Rock Canyon, Roosevelt, University Claim Pom State Titles
Photo: Myla Stewart
DENVER – The Colorado High School Activities Association concluded its 2025 Spirit State Championships on Saturday with the Pom, Hip-Hop and Jazz competitions at the Denver Coliseum.
Alongside the Hip-Hop and Jazz State Champions, each of the Poms champions were repeats from a year ago, with University winning its second-straight 2A/4A Pom title, Roosevelt capturing its fifth-straight 4A Pom title and Rock Canyon stretching its stream to three state titles in 5A Pom.
University, second after the opening routine of the day, turned in a zero-deduction performance of 84.3 in the finals for its second straight championship in 2A/3A Pom. The Bulldogs, winners of seven pom state championships, had won in every even-numbered year starting in 2016 and has now captured its first back-to-back titles.
“I’m grateful for our community and for the girls in their hard work,” said head coach Gina Shepherd. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to show what we have, because as a 3A team, sometimes we get looked back on, and it’s just to show that we are also just as good as that big team. It feels so great.”
SkyView Academy, two-time champion in 2A pom (2022 and 2023) was second and was also deduction-free with 83.15.
The 4A Pom title was a near tie as Roosevelt and Holy Family finished just .025 points apart, but it was Roosevelt that held the narrow advantage to claim its fifth-straight pom title.
“It’s easy to compare yourself in this sport and try to do things a different way, but we know if we stay true to ourselves, then that’s all we can ask for and all we can do,” head coach Brittany Coleman said. “We just told them, it’s your time, you need to fight and leave it all out on the floor. We say, all gas, no brakes. And they did just that.”
This marks the sixth overall spirit title for Roosevelt, as it also won the 4A Co-Ed Cheer title in 2023.
The Roughriders won with a score of 89.475, while Holy Family was close behind at 89.45. Standley Lake took third with a finals score of 82.025, while Pueblo County was fourth (81.175) and Windsor fifth (80.85).
Rock Canyon and Cherry Creek continued its dominance of the 5A Pom discipline as the two teams have not only combined to win the last seven state championships, but have finished in the top-two the last six years straight. It was the Jaguars that stretched their streak to championships to three-straight championships this year, though, while Cherry Creek finished second.
This marks the first time in 5A Poms history that a team has won back-to-back-to-back state titles.
“I think we knew we were fighting for the three-peat, which in 5A has never been done,” head coach Christina Leone said. “It was a lot of motivation to try and make some history, and we know that climbing to the top is a little bit different of a journey than just trying to stay there.”
This three-peat marks the eighth overall poms title for the Jaguars, and its fifth in the last six years.
“I think this [three-peat] just made these girls that much more hungry,” Leone continued. “The opportunity is there for them, if they want to fight for it. We never have to assume that just because it hasn’t been done, that it can’t be done.”
Rock Canyon posted the winning score of 88.475 to win the school it’s 12th overall spirit championship, while Cherry Creek finished second at 87.375. Legend took third with a score of 87.225, Legacy was fourth at 86.7 and Ponderosa was fifth wtih a score of 85.65.
