The Frederick County Public Schools Cheerleading competition keeps getting harder and harder each year.
The 2022 fall cheerleading season was very extreme, to say the least. The Lady Lancers of Linganore High School previously won the county title for 12 seasons in a row until last year. The athletes fought hard, but The Bears from Oakdale came in and took the title for their own.
The title is up for grabs again at the Frederick County Fall Cheerleading Competition. This year’s event will be at Thomas Johnson High School on Oct. 24.
The Frederick County Cheerleading competition is an intense competition among multiple teams. These teams compete against each other to see which teams with the highest scores will move on to the regional competition held at Herford Community College.
Oakdale Bears Head Coach Courtney Devine said she knows they have some tough competition this year, but she hopes that her girls can pull it off again.
“All I can ask is that we do our best and hit a solid routine,” Devine said.
The girls at Oakdale said they have bonded better this season than in the past.
“So far this season, I have grown more as a coach, and I was able to put the routine together sooner than in years past,” she said.
Captain Jordyn Turner, 17, of Oakdale , starts her fourth year on varsity. She said she leads her team by example this season. And, Jordyn said, there is a lot less drama this season and everyone gets along so much better.
“Unfortunately, I can’t compete this season due to an injury, but even though I cannot compete myself, I am excited to cheer them on and see them do well,” Jordyn said.
She said she gives constructive criticism when needed to help her team thrive. The high school senior is excited to see what her team will achieve this year.
Down the road, the Ladies at Linganore are getting ready for the competition.
Head Coach Amy Rumburg said it is an entirely different team.
“There is a different drive this season that we didn’t have last year,” she said. “We are on a mission of redemption.”
The loss at Linganore really hit at home, and these ladies are not going down without a fight this season.
“Our routine is better and more fast-paced,” Rumburg said. “Summer training helped a lot so that they were able to work together before the season started.”
Senior Captain Kaitlin Weis, 17, has been on varsity for four years. She said that there is a different group environment this season that wasn’t there before. The girls work together, and there is a lot more team chemistry, along with new talents that came through the door, she said.
“I am feeling very confident and prepared going into competition season,” Kaitlin said.
As a captain she is holding her team accountable and giving lots of advice and corrections.
“I listen to the girls and make them feel heard,” she said.
