Penncrest Cheerleaders Come Up Short in CLC But Look to Next Year

Though they put on a solid performance, the Lions cheerleaders did not place in the top five. The girls competed against nine other teams from the area in the Central League Cheerleading Championship on Saturday, which was hosted this year by Haverford High School in Havertown. Penncrest went up against Haverford, Marple Newtown, Springfield, Strath Haven, Upper Darby, Ridley, Radnor, Garnet Valley and Conestoga.

Upper Darby won both the junior varsity and varsity categories. For the junior varsity, Ridley placed second, and Springfield placed third. Varsity placed five teams, with Ridley in second, Haverford in third, Springfield in fourth and Marple rounding it out. 

Though not every team could place in the top spots, every team showed great talent, and every girl gave it her all, in a competition that is intense, and follows strict guidelines. Each routine had to be no longer than two and a half minutes long, and combined a mixture of dancing, tumbling, stunts and cheering. Penncrest’s cheerleaders and coaches had hoped for the best.

"It’s all up to the judges. I think the girls did a great job. They placed sixth and are proud of themselves for that. They went out and gave it their all, and say they have no regrets because they did all they could do," Penncrest coach Kristen Bailey says.

Bailey points out that all of these girls are working year round to perfect their craft. Tryouts begin in April, there are spring and summer practices and camps, and she says the teams go full-throttle once school starts. Not only are they cheering on the football fields and basketball courts, but also are practicing for competitions. The culmination is the Central League Cheerleading Championship.

"March is really their only month off," says Bailey. "You have to respect these girls. They keep up their GPAs, are always on top of their school work, plus other extracurricular activities. They learn a lot about time management which is a great life lesson. It shapes their character."

Maddi Hill, 17, is on Penncrest’s varsity cheerleading team. She’s been cheering since the 3rd grade. For her, it’s all about the game.

"I have a very competitive family. Cheerleading has given me the chance to compete."

(Stay tuned to Media Patch for a Whiz Kid feature story on Hill and her teammate, Jordan Ballew, coming soon).

Competition is a big part of cheerleading, and it takes a huge amount of courage for these girls to take the stage.

"It was amazing. It took a lot of confidence to come together as a team," says Penncrest’s Brittany Richards, who is an 18-year-old senior cheerleader.

The parents couldn’t agree more.

Jan Fichter, the mom of 16-year-old Jenny Fichter, who is a junior at Penncrest, says her daughter has put in 100 percent since she was a little girl.

"I give all these girls a lot of credit for their athletic ability. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there like that. What’s good is all the girls support each other, and support other schools’ teams," says Fichter.

While they didn’t receive a trophy at this year’s event, the team receives accolades all year long. They were the recipients of an outstanding achievement award from Universal Cheerleaders Association this year. They are commended for their spirit-raising activities and community service, including a business clothing drive for disadvantaged women and cheer clinics for local recreation teams. They are honor students, true All American-winning athletes, and will look ahead to win the big one next year.