From GMCs to their sixth state title, the Lady Eagles cheer team, under the coaching of Ms. Nicole Gregoire, Ms. Sara Yocum, and Ms. Celine Yurnet, has concluded their winter season. Their efforts this past season have upheld the legacy of Edison’s cheer team.

The athletes reinforced their resolve through a strong start, with the varsity team winning GMCs to become the White Division Champions. Following this feat, both junior varsity and varsity attended a Woodbridge competition, where they brought home first place.

As simple as they made it look, their efforts were far from easy. Each routine requires a cheer with poms, signs, stunts, and tumbling, as well as a music section involving stunts, tumbling, jumps, a pyramid, and a dance. In addition, with the graduation of last year’s seniors, the girls had to switch their division to a medium all-girl intermediate team.
“Our biggest struggle as a team was having to switch divisions. We were no longer coed this season, so that meant more competition,” said Allison Dima ‘23. “I was never nervous about this though, because I knew what we were capable of and that we are a very good team.”

Despite this switch, they scored highest of all seven teams in their division, making them the Intermediate Division Grand and Medium All-Girl Division Champions.
Aside from GMCs, the Lady Eagles won first at numerous competitions. At the Impact Competition at Brookdale Community College, both teams won first place, and varsity earned their highest score of the season. From there, the varsity team traveled to Dallas, Texas, to compete at Nationals, in which they finished in eighth in the toughest division.
However, these accomplishments were not possible without the support of their teammates.

“My favorite part of competing was the people on the team always being there and supporting whatever anyone does and doing the dance at the end when we know we hit zero,” said Casey Loeffler ‘24. Numerous cheerleaders expressed that this bond between their teammates and coaches is what allowed them to be successful.
Leading up to states, both teams amassed a winning streak of five consecutive competitions, and during the last local competition of the season, they dominated with three first place performances to finish as Grand Champions for session two.
Both teams concluded their season with a State Championship title. For the JV team, this victory was the cherry on top of their undefeated season, and for the varsity team, this meant continuing a legacy.

“When we were doing the last stunt section of the routine, our pyramid, where the entire time stunts at the same time close together where the flyers are connected in the air, I could feel the love and passion all of my teammates and I share after we had done it perfectly,” said Madeleine Taub ‘23, who felt that States was her most memorable moment of the season. “As we moved to the last section, the dance, everyone was ecstatic and we knew that, as we walked off the mat, we would win. That routine was the best one we’ve ever done, and the love we all felt was indescribable.”