For the second year in a row, the RMHS cheerleading team won the Mid-Suburban League (MSL) champion title. Adding to their victories, the team took second place at Sectionals, which was hosted here at Rolling Meadows. With this achievement, the team also qualified to compete at the State championship this past weekend.
The team went into this year’s IHSA State Competition with a 12th place title and hopes of get- ting in the top ten this year. Throughout the season, the team has placed no lower than third place in every competition.
This year’s captains are seniors Michelle Angelico, Nicole Hoppel, Nina Milewski, and Macy Serna.
The team has been committed to long, intensive hours of practice in order to fortify their rou- tines.
“We all feed off of each other’s attitude, so we have made it really important this year that we come in with a positive one,” Hoppel said.
The team has overcome their injuries and fought their way to the top numerous times through-
out the season. The coaches have also greatly impacted the season. “[The coaches] truly are incredible people,” Hoppel said. “The three of them keep us calm and
believing in ourselves even when we are struggling.” With rigorous stunts and routines, trust between stunt groups becomes essential to any success-
ful team. “There’s a different kind of trust you experience on cheer because you’re literally trusting each
other with your life,” Angelico said. However, each team has challenges, whether it be the physically demanding stunts and routines,
illness or maintaining a positive mentality during meets. The cheerleaders have worked to minimize setbacks and continue to compete to their maximum potential.
“We have had a few minor injuries here and there. Our team just kept moving forward,” Angelico said.
With their eyes and minds set on the goal, the team worked endlessly to win the MSL title and bring a strong performance to the State competition.
“From the start our team has really put in 110 percent to reach our end goal,” Angelico said.
The team competed at the state level on Friday, Feb. 6 and moved on to the second round of the competition on Saturday, Feb. 7. Overall, the team ranked ninth in the state.