BANGOR, Maine — The uncertainty was undeniable as the Old Town cheering squad awaited the results from Saturday’s Class B state championship meet.
The Coyotes needn’t have worried, because like at the Penobscot Valley Conference, Big East Conference and Class B North events that preceded Saturday’s competition at the Cross Insurance Center, they came out on top.
Old Town captured its first state crown since 2000, scoring 81.3 points to edge regional rivals Ellsworth and Hermon.
“That was one of the best routines we’ve done so far,” said Old Town senior Mikayla Morey. “We were just so excited that we put everything we had into our last performance on the mat.
“Just knowing that it was our last time, we knew we had one more chance to nail it.”
Ellsworth and five-time defending state champion Hermon each finished with 79.9 points but Ellsworth was awarded the runner-up plaque by edging the Hawks in the 10-point technical scores that serve as the first tiebreaker.
“We definitely did not see that coming,” said Ellsworth senior Victoria Page-Jackson, whose team had finished third behind Old Town and Hermon at the PVC, Big East and Class B North meets. “We’ve been working hard all season and kind of been coming up just a little bit short and finishing third every time. It finally feels good to be taking home some medals.”
Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and Class B South champion Medomak Valley of Waldoboro placed a close fourth with 77 points, while Presque Isle (70.2) and John Bapst of Bangor (64.3) were next in the 12-school field.
That Old Town stepped up with a championship-level blend of dance, stunts and tumbling as one of the last teams to step onto the mat was evident by the excited reactions of the performers as well as Coyotes’ coaches Nicole Hogan and Emily Smith.
“We knew this was our last chance so there was no reason to be nervous,” said Julia Van Steenberghe, one of six seniors on the Old Town roster. “We worked so hard for two straight weeks and I think we were prepared. I think we were ready.”
Joining Van Steenberghe and Morey on the Old Town roster are classmates Emma Cyr, Kayleigh Bickford, Zoe Swett and Tara Roy, juniors Jordan Merchant, Casey Pratt, Julie Miller and Brianna Hogan, sophomores Lexi Carey, Kaylee Bellavance and Kelsee Steele, and freshmen Melanie Soucy, Faith Watson, Kaili Lupinacci and Lacey Ouellette.
Ellsworth wasn’t quite sure where it would finish after completing its routine.
“I actually was a little nervous because I did mess up a little bit and usually I’m not like that, usually I’m like, ‘I hit it perfect,’” said Page-Jackson. “We walked off the mat a little discouraged and we were kind of accepting whatever we were going to get because our competitors performed amazing. But the judges liked it.”
Also on the Ellsworth squad coached by Melanie Fox and Kathryn Dickens are senior Carlotta Osanna, juniors Piper Hardison, Maddy Harmon, Danielle White and Emily Young, sophomores Belle Albert, Maya McCabe, Molly McCarthy, Lindsay Bland and Hailey McCabe, and freshmen Olivia Robidoux, Kristen Omlor and Gabriella Morse.
