Wantagh takes second place again at state cheerleading meet
Wantagh competes in the state cheerleading championships at the SRC Arena & Events Center in Syracuse. Credit: Heather Ainsworth
This was a familiar mat for Wantagh at the state cheerleading championship in Syracuse.
The Warriors are three-time attendees and for the second year in a row they’ve earned second place, this year in Small Division II.
“It was an honor being at the state championship for the third year in a row,” coach Matt Schneyer said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the outstanding routine Wantagh performed.”
The Warriors have placed in the top five since the championships’ inception. Last year, they were second in Small Division I.
Freeport didn’t disappoint in its first appearance at the even, placing fifth in Small Division I. It became a season of “firsts” for the Red Devils; first time in the semifinals, first time county champs and now first time state finalist.
Seaford made their second appearance at the state championship, this year getting fifth in Large Division II.
“The girls worked hard to be the team to represent our school and Section VIII in Large Varsity II,” coach Lisa Ferrari said.
East Meadow and Calhoun didn’t make it out of the preliminaries. This is their second year at the event.
Overall Ferrari and Schneyer agree finding a comfortable balance between the state judging and the Long Island judging is proving to be difficult.
The Long Island judging is geared more toward the UCA rubric that is used for the National High School Championship.
But for now the teams will have to forget about the judging woes and just be happy with their placing.
“I am humbled that many coaches agree the score sheets did not reflect in our favor, but second place for the second year in a row is unreal,” Schneyer said.
