Fresh off an easy win at region, Commerce’s competitive cheerleading squad has its sights set on knocking off defending state champion Trion Saturday at the state meet in Columbus.
The cheer Tigers are seeking their first Class A title in three years.
“It’s going to be interesting and challenging,” coach Dianne Cotrell said. “I feel like we are ready and we do have the skills.”
The cheer Tigers scored a 222 at region this past weekend, beating second-place Hebron Christian by 26 points.
Once the undisputed champions of the Class A cheerleading ranks, the Tigers — owner of five state titles — have had to settle for a pair of runner-up showings and a third-place finish the past three trips to Columbus.
Not that Cotrell is in anyway displeased with being right there in the running the last three years, but she said the cheer Tigers are definitely motivated to reclaim what’s been lost the past three seasons.
“It’s something we’ve been striving for,” said Cotrell, whose teams won four consecutive titles from 2002-2005. “But we all know that every it gets more and more difficult because every team gets more and more skilled.”
The coach — whose program first won state in 2000 — feels her team has improved as the year has progressed and has benefited from strict judging this fall, making the routine sharper.
Those factors, she hopes, mean more points at state.
And by the looks of it, the team the cheer Tigers will have to out-point is Trion, which edged Bremen by one point for last year’s state title.
Cotrell noted that Commerce’s routine is on par with Trion’s in all categories, which means it comes down to a matter of execution Saturday.
“I think we’ve got a shot,” Cotrell said.
