The State College Area High School varsity cheer team has qualified to compete in the 2019 National High School Cheerleading Championship.
State High received a qualifying bid to the national event after competing last weekend in the UCA Allegheny Regional competition in Slippery Rock. The team placed second in the small co-ed varsity division after competing against squads from across Pennsylvania.
“Most people don’t realize that cheerleading is more than they see on the sidelines” head coach Roxanne Williams said in a news release. “The team practices before and after school to get ready for their competition season in addition to supporting football, basketball and wrestling from the sideline. It’s a lot of work but the cheerleaders are excited and honored to be representing our school, and the State College community at the national championships.”
The State High cheer team qualified for nationals in 2018, but this is the first time since 2006 that it has had a co-ed squad qualify.
A team of 18 State High athletes will travel to the competition, Feb. 8-10 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. The event will be televised nationally on ESPN.
“We are so proud of their performance” said assistant coach and routine choreographer Mariah LaPorte. “We want the whole world to see how much they have accomplished and they will when we compete at ESPN.”
In 2018, the National High School Cheerleading Championship hosted 800 teams and 15,000 athletes.
Before heading to the national championships, the State High team will look to win its first PIAA District 6 championship when they compete on Dec. 15 in Altoona.
