Panthers win non-tumbling title
GOLDEN GIRLS — The NRHEG Competition Cheer Team won the state championship in the non-tumbling division Saturday at Roy Wilkins Arena in St. Paul. Front from left: Brina Bergland, Brenna Hagen, Dana Jensen, Kal Shurson, Kiley Beenken, Hannah Lewison, Maddy Schwierjohann, Emmy Hobbs. Back: Stormi Hagen, Jadyn Nelson-Spies, Abbey Solland, Bayli Possin, Nicole Edon, Lizzy Hagen, and coach Kari Buendorf. (Submitted photo)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The NRHEG Competition Cheer Team came home with something special from St. Paul last weekend: a state title.
The Panthers captured the state crown in the non-tumbling division Saturday at Roy Wilkins Arena.
According to coach Kari Buendorf, it was well earned.
“This year the routine they performed pushed the girls to a new level of competitive cheer,” said Buendorf. “And they were ready to tackle it and did an amazing job working to perfect it.”
According to Buendorf, the team gave it everything they had Saturday and it all fell together.
“As in any sport/activity, you perform and compete to your fullest with no regrets left on the floor or mat,” she said. “On Saturday, these 14 girls did just that and they knew they had performed to the best of their ability and gave 120 percent. The feeling when they left the performance mat was excitement and tears of joy. They said they would have not have changed anything, and to me that says a lot.”After being announced as the winner of their division, the Panthers went back to the warm-up mats to compete for the grand championship. Almost every team they competed against this time around will head to the nationals competition this upcoming weekend in Orlando, FL.
“To compete against them says a lot,” said Buendorf. “They performed again and did a wonderful job.”
NRHEG cheerleaders also won some individual honors Saturday. Dana Jensen was named to the All-State Cheer Team while Maddy Schwierjohann and Brenna Hagen were named to the Minnesota Honor Team for their leadership and academics.
The cheerleaders also competed at Plainview, Apple Valley, the University of Minnesota, Edina and the Mall of America this season.
Buendorf is more than pleased with the season and overjoyed at its conclusion.
“As a coach, I am proud of each one of these girls and happy to be part of the NRHEG coaching staff,” she said. “As a coach, you want your team to have the feeling of accomplishment and learn lifelong skills. Having these 14 young ladies give it their all for 2 1/2 minutes and to have fans there yelling out NRHEG was the greatest feeling. It was an amazing finish to a wonderful story.”
The cheerleaders and coach Buendorf would like to thank those who have supported them over this past year through fundraisers and coming to competitions. This team will perform their routine at Thursday night's girls’ basketball game against Blue Earth and again next Friday against Blooming Prairie.