May 11, 2019 at 01:12AM
CLINTON - It was a run for the history books. The Clinton High School varsity co-ed cheerleading team qualified for its first national competition ... and brought home a first-place trophy.
The U.S. Finals were held in Virginia Beach, Va., on May 5, and the Gaels beat six other high school teams, breaking the school record.
"The previous record was 97.1, and we scored a 103.7," coach Michele Lefebvre said. "I'm so proud of this team and all they've accomplished. They reached all their goals, and I couldn't pick a more deserving nine athletes.
"Hard work pays off," she said "This is an experience that we will never forget."
The team returned home on May 6 to a police, fire and DPW escort.
The members of the squad who went to nationals are: Captains Morgan Lowe and Elizabeth McNamara, Faith Burton, Brian Carmona, Dominic Dimeco, Bella Gemma, Alex Kennedy, Marty McNamara and Jocelyn Rossignol.
To get to the national competition, the squad finished first in the Midland-Wachusett League Tournament, then first at the regional tournament at Shepherd Hill, qualifying for state finals, where they came in fourth, scoring high enough to qualify for Nationals. They also placed ninth in the New England Tournament.
"This season has been one for the books," Lefebvre said. "It still makes me emotional thinking about how far this program has come in the three years I've been with them.
"The season prior to my first year coaching here, there were seven athletes in the entire program," she said. "Now, I have 35 to 40 athletes try out every season.
"This team of nine, which earned a bid to Nationals, is absolutely the most deserving group I've ever coached," Lefebvre said. "They practice four times a week, cheer on the varsity football and boys basketball teams, and travel for competitions on most Sundays for eight to 10-hour days."
Before the trip, Lefebvre said the trip meant more for the squad than winning or losing.
"This is something they will remember for the rest of their lives," the coach said. "In our cheer section, we yell the words 'Refusing to quit until we get what's ours!' meaning a bid to Nationals.
"This team made history, set the bar for future seasons, and has absolutely proved to every Gael in this community that hard work, plus patience, plus relentlessness equals success," she said.
While in Virginia, the team took a trip to Busch Gardens, taking time to pose in one of their routine positions to post on social media.
CLINTON - It was a run for the history books. The Clinton High School varsity co-ed cheerleading team qualified for its first national competition ... and brought home a first-place trophy.
The U.S. Finals were held in Virginia Beach, Va., on May 5, and the Gaels beat six other high school teams, breaking the school record.
"The previous record was 97.1, and we scored a 103.7," coach Michele Lefebvre said. "I'm so proud of this team and all they've accomplished. They reached all their goals, and I couldn't pick a more deserving nine athletes.
"Hard work pays off," she said "This is an experience that we will never forget."
The team returned home on May 6 to a police, fire and DPW escort.
The members of the squad who went to nationals are: Captains Morgan Lowe and Elizabeth McNamara, Faith Burton, Brian Carmona, Dominic Dimeco, Bella Gemma, Alex Kennedy, Marty McNamara and Jocelyn Rossignol.
To get to the national competition, the squad finished first in the Midland-Wachusett League Tournament, then first at the regional tournament at Shepherd Hill, qualifying for state finals, where they came in fourth, scoring high enough to qualify for Nationals. They also placed ninth in the New England Tournament.
"This season has been one for the books," Lefebvre said. "It still makes me emotional thinking about how far this program has come in the three years I've been with them.
"The season prior to my first year coaching here, there were seven athletes in the entire program," she said. "Now, I have 35 to 40 athletes try out every season.
"This team of nine, which earned a bid to Nationals, is absolutely the most deserving group I've ever coached," Lefebvre said. "They practice four times a week, cheer on the varsity football and boys basketball teams, and travel for competitions on most Sundays for eight to 10-hour days."
Before the trip, Lefebvre said the trip meant more for the squad than winning or losing.
"This is something they will remember for the rest of their lives," the coach said. "In our cheer section, we yell the words 'Refusing to quit until we get what's ours!' meaning a bid to Nationals.
"This team made history, set the bar for future seasons, and has absolutely proved to every Gael in this community that hard work, plus patience, plus relentlessness equals success," she said.
While in Virginia, the team took a trip to Busch Gardens, taking time to pose in one of their routine positions to post on social media.