Submitted photos – The Fortuna cheerleading squad.
It was an historic weekend for H-DNL cheerleading, as two league teams claimed a first-ever North Coast Section championship in the sport.
The Eureka Loggers and Fortuna Huskies both traveled to Campolindo High School in Moraga for the first-ever NCS championships in traditional competitive cheer.
And both teams took home a championship in their respective brackets.
The Loggers won the Non-Tumbling small team competition, while the Huskies placed first in the Non-Tumbling large team competition.
And even more impressive, both teams had to overcome some adversity on the way to the titles.
The Huskies lost three of their cheerleaders to injuries and sickness the day before they were set to travel, including one who broke her wrist in practice on Thursday.
That forced them to make some last-minute changes to the entire lineup, with every singe girl having to adjust to a different role.
“We had to actually re-do our whole routine the day before we left,” Fortuna head coach Kim Brown said. “And I was so proud of them for just going out there and running the routine. Everybody had to adapt.”
The Fortuna girls rose to the challenge and did not allow the setbacks affect their performance.
“We had a lot of adversity and they did great,” the coach added.
Likewise with the Loggers, who were also missing some girls because of sickness, something that appears to be affecting just about every competitive H-DNL team in just about every sport right now.
And like with the Huskies, they did not allow the setbacks affect their performance.
“I thought they did great,” Eureka head coach Brianna Day said. “We had to make some changes at the last minute and the girls came ready to work and it worked out.
“They handled it like pros.”
The competition included a 90-second routine to music with stunts as well as a one-minute cheer.
And, according to Day, it took a complete team performance to win the championship.
“Really our whole team stepped up as leaders,” she said. “All 14 girls put in the work and worked together really well. It was just a group effort.”
For the Huskies, it was their first time ever competing together.
“It was not a perfect routine, but they all did great,” Brown said. “And it was a great experience. This year is our first time ever going to competitions.”
Submitted photo – The Eureka cheerleading squad.
The Fortuna coach was particularly impressed with the way her girls adapted to the adversity.
“With the changes we had to make, it shows how versatile they are,” Brown said. “It speaks a lot to their athleticism that they were able to do that.”
Both coaches appreciate the effort and work their cheerleaders have put into getting this far, something that clearly paid off for both teams this past weekend.
“They’re pretty resilient,” Brown said. “They come in and work hard every day and they’re a good group of girls to be around. They work really well together.”
Day echoed the sentiment for her girls.
“These girls, they just put in the effort every single day,” the Eureka coach said. “They come in whether they’re tired or sick or injured and work hard and put their best foot forward.
“This group of kids is amazing to work with.”
Unlike the Huskies, the Loggers will now advance to next month’s national competition in Anaheim, which they qualified for after a good showing at the recent regional competition.
This will be the second straight year the Eureka girls have advanced to the national tournament after placing ninth a year ago.
They are currently fundraising for the trip.
“We’re looking for sponsorship to get these kids there,” Day said. “I’m just so proud of them, and the community support has been amazing and we’re so grateful.”
Anyone who wants to help support the team can do so through the team Instagram page.
The Huskies are hoping to join them at the national competition next year.
“We hope that next year we can plan for it,” Brown said. “This was a good taste for the girls and for the school to get into competitive cheer.”
Madison Day is an an assistant coach with the Loggers team, which includes Trinity Nelson, Cassandra Koehler, Jo Dixon, Ahnaleah Dixon, Gina Landry, Makenzie Knight, Fallyn Miller-Griggs, Cassandra Breazeal, Jaycee Childress, Arabella Frederick, Natalie Conrad, Miley Douangphachanh, Naiyahna Ledsma and Faithlynn Her.
Brown is assisted by Lily Macmillan and Shannon Smith and the Fortuna team includes Kimberly Contreras Dominguez, Kyla Gibbs Aaliyah Hughes, Brianna Hall, Valerie Patino, Adison Mooneyham, Yaretzi Martinez Angon, Aurora Palafox, Ella Thomson, Keyden Quenell, Ruby Stokes, Lauren Terrell, Madison Vaughan, Moenave Williams, Danica Swanson, Lluvia Aguilar Ferro, Claira Bowles, Taylor Griffith, Presley Henry, Amara Craps, Maria Juarez, Kendall Gibbs, Alexa McCall, Reagan Pascascio, Casandra Nunez, Alexa Nunez, Karrissa Vaughan, Zoie Thomsson and Danna Catana.
