High school cheerleading: Hampshire embraces role of hunted at state

Going into last year's IHSA cheerleading state meet, Hampshire was not seen as a potential threat for a top-three finish, let alone a state title.

Sure, the Whip-Purs had been to state three years in a row, but they had advanced to the second day only once, and even that was only a seventh-place finish.

Then they went and won the 2015 medium class state title, and now everybody knows about them.

“This year has been different – we didn't even think it was possible to win as underdogs last year,” Hampshire senior captain Kasey Reigner said.

“Coming back this year as defending state champs, it's a completely different outlook. Teams know about us – there’s a target on our backs and knowing that everyone is watching you and expects so much more of you. We know what we're capable of, and hopefully, we can go back and get a two-peat."

Reigner is one of two seniors (with Shayla Sarros) on the Whip-Purs cheer team that have been with them for all four years they have advanced to state.

Hampshire has 15 of the 20 girls from last year’s team back, and Reigner thinks this is actually a more talented group. Before the state title win, the Whip-Purs didn’t win any competitions during the season, which they also haven’t done this season.

Hampshire coach Rachael Fischer said she believes the IHSA and other coaches do a great job promoting sportsmanship, but her team has noticed the stares or heard the whispers when they compete. It's part of trying to defend a state championship.

“We just try and go out there and, as I tell the girls, as long as when they step off the mat that they gave everything they can give, that's all I care about,” Fischer said. "Can't really focus on what other people say or what other people think, because there will always be people trying to bring you down."

Hampshire will compete in this year's state meet preliminaries at 11:25 a.m. Friday at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington.

Prairie Ridge, another medium class team, will compete at state for the first time in five years. The Wolves are hoping this trip to state pushes the program back in the right direction. Prairie Ridge finished third in 2011.

“We’re super-excited to make it with such a young team, even after a year of a lot of struggles as a team,” first-year Prairie Ridge coach Madysen Sheen said. “I think going to state they really got a good perspective of how a positive attitude really makes a difference.”

The Wolves are set to compete at 12:45 p.m. Friday.

Crystal Lake Central, which advanced to state by winning the DeKalb Sectional, will join Prairie Ridge and Hampshire in the medium division. The Tigers have been to state six straight years, jumping between the large and medium divisions.

Central matched its best finish at state last year when it took fifth in the large division. The Tigers will perform at 10 a.m. Friday.

Huntley and McHenry round out the local teams that advanced to state, and both will compete in the large division. Huntley made it to state by winning the DeKalb Sectional. The Red Raiders never have placed at state and will compete at 4:10 p.m. Friday.

This is McHenry’s first appearance at state since 2006 and only second in school history. The Warriors will compete at 4:20 p.m. Friday.

STATE PRELIMINARIES

Performance times Friday for local teams in the IHSA cheerleading state meet preliminaries at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington:

Medium team division

Crystal Lake Central – 10 a.m.

Hampshire – 11:25 a.m.

Prairie Ridge – 12:45 p.m.

Large team division

Huntley – 4:10 p.m.

McHenry – 4:20 p.m.

Going into last year's IHSA cheerleading state meet, Hampshire was not seen as a potential threat for a top-three finish, let alone a state title.

Sure, the Whip-Purs had been to state three years in a row, but they had advanced to the second day only once, and even that was only a seventh-place finish.

Then they went and won the 2015 medium class state title, and now everybody knows about them.

“This year has been different – we didn't even think it was possible to win as underdogs last year,” Hampshire senior captain Kasey Reigner said.

“Coming back this year as defending state champs, it's a completely different outlook. Teams know about us – there’s a target on our backs and knowing that everyone is watching you and expects so much more of you. We know what we're capable of, and hopefully, we can go back and get a two-peat."

Reigner is one of two seniors (with Shayla Sarros) on the Whip-Purs cheer team that have been with them for all four years they have advanced to state.

Hampshire has 15 of the 20 girls from last year’s team back, and Reigner thinks this is actually a more talented group. Before the state title win, the Whip-Purs didn’t win any competitions during the season, which they also haven’t done this season.

Hampshire coach Rachael Fischer said she believes the IHSA and other coaches do a great job promoting sportsmanship, but her team has noticed the stares or heard the whispers when they compete. It's part of trying to defend a state championship.

“We just try and go out there and, as I tell the girls, as long as when they step off the mat that they gave everything they can give, that's all I care about,” Fischer said. "Can't really focus on what other people say or what other people think, because there will always be people trying to bring you down."

Hampshire will compete in this year's state meet preliminaries at 11:25 a.m. Friday at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington.

Prairie Ridge, another medium class team, will compete at state for the first time in five years. The Wolves are hoping this trip to state pushes the program back in the right direction. Prairie Ridge finished third in 2011.

“We’re super-excited to make it with such a young team, even after a year of a lot of struggles as a team,” first-year Prairie Ridge coach Madysen Sheen said. “I think going to state they really got a good perspective of how a positive attitude really makes a difference.”

The Wolves are set to compete at 12:45 p.m. Friday.

Crystal Lake Central, which advanced to state by winning the DeKalb Sectional, will join Prairie Ridge and Hampshire in the medium division. The Tigers have been to state six straight years, jumping between the large and medium divisions.

Central matched its best finish at state last year when it took fifth in the large division. The Tigers will perform at 10 a.m. Friday.

Huntley and McHenry round out the local teams that advanced to state, and both will compete in the large division. Huntley made it to state by winning the DeKalb Sectional. The Red Raiders never have placed at state and will compete at 4:10 p.m. Friday.

This is McHenry’s first appearance at state since 2006 and only second in school history. The Warriors will compete at 4:20 p.m. Friday.

STATE PRELIMINARIES

Performance times Friday for local teams in the IHSA cheerleading state meet preliminaries at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington:

Medium team division

Crystal Lake Central – 10 a.m.

Hampshire – 11:25 a.m.

Prairie Ridge – 12:45 p.m.

Large team division

Huntley – 4:10 p.m.

McHenry – 4:20 p.m.