Rocket JV and Varsity cheerleaders hit zero at the MAC competition Feb. 11 at Norton High School and finished third place overall. 

“I was extremely excited about the girls hitting zero,” said Varsity coach Jackie Ogden. “It is hard to have an entire performance with no deductions or mistakes.”

For being only the third year SHS has participated in this competition, the girls came to show out and bring their all.

“The motions were sharp, jumps precise and the facials and spirit was energetic,” said JV coach
Natalie Ekron said. “I am very proud of all the girls.”

By placing third, the Rockets not only beat out other competitors, but also the home team, Norton High School.

Junior Mia Perez said, “Considering we as a team practice in our school’s cafeteria with no mats and very limited space, we gave it our all.”

Freshman Autumn Benci added, “This was the most clean and prepared comp I’ve been a part of.”

Perez and Benci both participated in the jump off, and Benci also participated in the tumble off.

Perez, who has been cheering for 13 years, won the jump off as an eighth grader at both a cheer comp and the Universal Cheerleader Association summer camp. She had wanted to win again as a high schooler, and said she had thought beforehand, “this is my comeback year.”

She made it to the final round of the jump off, further than she expected, and said she was still proud of what was accomplished.

Benci, who has been tumbling for five years, threw a roundoff and six back handsprings in the tumble off. “I went into that knowing I wasn’t going to win,” she said. “There were a lot of amazing girls.”

Senior Sam Gadus said, “The comp this year was so fun and special because it was my last. I’ll never forget celebrating with my team.”

Junior Sydney Burfield said her  favorite memory from the comp was “singing and dancing in the locker room with all the girls, creating excitement.”

Gadus said that during a cheer competition, “The adrenaline and energy is something just so amazing, it makes you want to perform to the best of your ability.”