By Max Bowen-Max.bowen@northstarreporter.com
After a much different season in 2020, the high school cheer team has returned with an award-winning 2021.
Coach Patti Johnson said that the team won the Game Day Championship for the fourth consecutive time this year. They also won the Fall Hockomock Game Day Championship for the second time in a row.
“The girls enjoyed being able to compete in a live setting with a crowd and fellow cheer teams, after having competed virtually all last year,” wrote Johnson in an e-mail.
North Attleborough beat out 12 other schools to win the titles, scoring 13 more points than the second-place team. The champions were crowned at an MSAA Game Day State Championship tournament- this year held at Shepherd Hill High School.
Johnson said the team is strong in its ability to interact with the crowd in a game, as evidenced by the intensity with which they lead cheers at football games. She said competing for the titles involves skills such as tumbling and stunting combined with megaphones or banners to relate to the crowd and encourage their participation.
“The team had to work hard at their stunting skills, while their performance ability came more naturally,” wrote Johnson.
Practices are held four times a week for two hours, along with a weekly tumbling class. The team cheers at each of the football games, both home and away. Johnson said that despite having earned multiple titles in the past, the team was new to competing, so it was a whole new experience for the majority of them.
“I think they knew they were prepared for the season, but still had first time jitters,” she said. “We had a few freshmen who showed great potential and promise as the season progressed, as well as some great leadership by the veterans of the team.”
