CHEERLEADING: Kentwood snags two more state titles

The names and faces have changed through the years for the Kentwood High cheer team.

The success, however, has remained largely the same.

On Saturday, Jan. 22 at Comcast Arena in Everett, the Conquerors flipped, twirled and tumbled their way to another pair of titles at the state championships. Kentwood's Silver squad bagged the title in the Super Large division, rolling to 260 points, well ahead of second-place Bothell at 219. Central Kitsap grabbed third place with 203 points followed by Bellarmine Prep at 169. However, the Conquerors weren't done with just one title. The Conquerors' Green team took home the championship in the Non-Tumbling Small division with 211 points, which tied Kentwood with Class 2A Steilacoom. Mount Si's Silver team tied with Auburn Mountainview for third place with 198 points followed by King's (191), Coupeville (184), Foster (182), Timberline (176) and Thomas Jefferson (162).

Kent-Meridian was the only other local school to have a team in the competition. The Royals took fourth in the Class 4A Non-Tumbling Large division with 166 points.

This is not the first time the Conquerors have won the crown at the state championship.

Impressively, in fact, this is Kentwood's 7th and 8th cheer state championships since 2007.

To advance to the state championship, teams must have scored a 195 or above at a qualifying tournament or have finished above 50 percent of the other competing teams in a qualifying event. Kentwood qualified for the event multiple times before last weekend's championship.

The Conquerors' work, however, is not yet complete. The top-notch performance helped Kentwood's Silver team qualify for the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) national championship, which will be held Feb. 10 in Orlando, Fla. More than 15,000 participants compete at the national event.

THE CHAMPIONS ARE ...

Below is a look at Kentwood's Silver and Green cheerleading teams

SILVER TEAM

Alisha Butler

Ally Anderson

Amanda Soto

Amanda Berlin

Amber Hunter

Ashtin Kappe

Brianna Grant

Brooke Chase

Carrie Arralde

Cassie Mohler

Cierra Roberts-Kirby

Gabby McDonald

Icis Taylor

Jada Robinson

Jordan Hoffman

Katy Martin

Lexie Millard

Lily Peabody-West

Madi Robinson

Marissa Nunn

McKenzie Johnson

Megan Ramberg

Rachel Torres

Riley Ellison

Rozlyn Kragerud

Sarah Collins

Sarah Simonson

Vija-Marie Sharp

GREEN TEAM

Anthony Ford

Amanda Jakubik

Erin Richter

Janay Hull

Kaitlin Jenkins

Maggie Altobelli

McKayla Schack

Riana Slyter

Sabryna Searle

Tyler Martin

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