Lemont cheerleading closes in on second straight state title

The Lemont cheerleading team has given itself a chance to repeat as state champions after qualifying out of the Jan. 31 Joliet West sectional.

The Indians, who have captured four state titles since 2009 and trophies in nine straight seasons, earned a trip to the 2015 IHSA state finals after coming in fourth with a score of 86.87 in the medium team division. The state event will be today and tomorrow at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington.

Lemont’s cheerleading squad is one of only two athletic programs in school history to win an IHSA team state championship, having done so in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014. The Indians also finished as state runners-up in 2007, 2008 and 2013 and brought home third-place trophies in 2006 and 2012.

Led by coach Dave Erlenbaugh, the team is made up of seniors Easton Kral, Reann Kwasneski, Elly Lambert, Nicole Markley, Stephanie Markley, Kayly Norris, Brianna
Olkiewicz, Samantha Palumbo, Jenna Polk and Samantha Walus; juniors Taylor Biggs, Nicole Clausius, Erin Cliff, Paige Murphy, Katelyn Papierski, Paola Prado, Jaclyn Rachanski, Kristin Ramski, Taylor Sambucci and Taryn Tate; and sophomore Caitlyn Henry.

The preliminary rounds for both the small and medium divisions will begin today at 9:15 a.m. and Lemont is scheduled to compete at 9:30 a.m. The finals for the medium division will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, with the awards ceremony scheduled to follow at 12:45 p.m.