Butler cranks out PIAA Competitive Spirit coed championship in Hershey
HERSHEY — When the chips were down, Butler was on.
Spot on.
The Golden Tornado’s coed competitive cheerleading squad was deducted only half a point during its routine in the finals of the PIAA Competitive Spirit Championships Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Giant Center in Hershey. That performance captured the coed title, Butler’s score of 87.5333 points beating out runner-up McDowell’s 84.5.
“In cheerleading, that’s winning by a pretty good margin,” Butler coach Kristin Karam said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way this squad put it together in the finals.”
Butler topped a field of 16 teams to win its first PIAA coed crown since 2019. McDowell had won it the previous three years in a row. The Tornado finished second to McDowell last year.
“It always seems to come down to us and them,” said Butler senior Madison Varner. “This is the best feeling I’ve had in a long time. Coming in second as opposed to winning? No comparison. I’m just so happy right now.
“When we go up against McDowell at smaller competitions during the year, it’s all friendly. When we get out to the state meet, it’s game on.”
The top four teams in the preliminary round earn byes into the finals. The Tornado placed third in preliminaries, joining State College, New Oxford and Pennsbury in going right to the five-team finals. The fifth finalist came from the semifinal round, which consisted of the teams finishing fifth through eighth in prelims. McDowell was among that group and won the semifinal round.
State College had no points deducted in winning the preliminary round with a score of 84.3. Butler’s preliminary score was 81.3333, with four points deducted.
“We made a few mistakes there,” Tornado senior Matt Davis said of preliminaries. “But our routine was good and it got us through. We only had one minor glitch in our finals performance. Everybody came through.”
Because Butler was the only coed team in the WPIAL meet, it had to compete against all-female squads to earn a qualifying spot in the PIAA event.
“This was a different experience,” Davis said of the 16-team coed field. “You’re never sure what to expect. Our theme all weekend was to just go out there, do the best we can ... no regrets.
“Everybody hit. It was something to see. I’m so proud to be a part of this.”
Tornado senior Anna Munko said the entire season was based on preparing for a shot at winning the state championship.
“Every practice, every competition, this is what we were preparing for,” she said. “I’m super excited. We had the drive to win. We knew we were good enough, that it was in our hands.”
Butler was one of the first few teams to perform, meaning it had no score to chase or another performance to compare itself with.
“While the first couple of teams were preparing, we were practicing our routine and getting ready,” Karam said. “We depend on our routine and executing it to the best of our ability. It all worked out.”
Joining seniors Davis, Varner and Munko on the Tornado squad are juniors Ben Buser, Amelia Holt, Katie Smith, Lynaeah Broadie, Westyn Foster, Nathan Adams, Elizabeth Vicari, Kaylee Letcher and Alaina McKee, sophomores Lucy McFall and Ella Davenport, and freshmen Madison Lewis, Alexis Cetti, Emma Hilliard, Klayre Brown and Olivia Flanigan.
Coaches were Karam, Brooke Carr and Marianne Miller.
“We had some alumni support there from (former Butler cheerleaders) Logan Donnel and Colin Crouch, too,” Karam said.
Moniteau placed fourth in the Class 2A small varsity division with a score of 83.5. Bishop McCort won with a 94.2667. Karns City placed fifth in the Class 2A large varsity division with a 75.9667. Neshannock won with an 84.4667.
