The cheer team took third place in WPIALs over the weekend and earned a bid to states as well.

It was the first in-person competition that the cheer team participated in this year.

“I’m so proud of our team, especially the girls who have never competed (in person) before and didn’t really know what to expect,” junior Erin Hampton said. “Everybody put in their best effort and our hard work at practice the past few months has definitely paid off.”

The WPIAL competition is different from other cheer competitions, with teams facing off against each other regardless of squad size.

“Overall, the competition went very well,” sophomore Ava Wodarek said. “We hit our routine, and had no tumbling touches. We all finished very proud of each other with excitement for the next time we take the mat.”

The WPIAL event showcased some of the team’s strengths, and an area to continue working on, Wodarek said.

“We were all extremely focused on hitting our stunts. Now that we constantly hit them, we need to focus more on the clean transitions that happen between tumbling and jumps,” Wodarek said.

The team now prepares for states, which will be held April 10.