Bucksport, Shead continue tradition as top cheerleaders

As those of us who follow high school basketball make our way to the Bangor Auditorium for the 1991 version of the Maine Secondary School Principals’ Association Class A, B, C, and D schoolgirl and schoolboy tournaments, this seems an appropriate time to recognize the state championship cheerleaders who will accompany those teams and cheer them on.

Eastern Maine won two of the four state crowns this year with a clean sweep in Class D, claiming all four places, and a winner in Class B. Each state champion upset the defending state champion for the 1991 title.

For the third time in four years, Bucksport claimed the Class B title after having been state champion in 1988 and 1989 and state runnerup to Marshwood of Eliot last year.

The Golden Bucks won their title with the help of first-yaer head coach Sandi Wood, who moved up to varsity after coaching the junior varsity team last year. Wood is a former BHS cheerleader who trained under Beulah Richards, the lady who began the championship cheerleading tradition at Bucksport.

Seven members of the state Class B championship team are seniors, led by captain Jenny Dorr. Other senior champs are Lisa Brown, Kelly Ayer, Renee Thompson, Kristin Wood, Colleen Ginn, Jen Turner, and Eva Deans.

Juniors on the squad are Nikki Grunwald, Jessica Allen, and Kristen Freeman with sophomore Jennifer Annis.

Glenna Austin coaches the Shead Tigers of Eastport, who also have a strong state tournament tradition after being state runnerup in 1990, state champion in 1989, and state runnerup in 1988.

Seniors Jeff Franklin and Beth Austin captain this squad.

Junior members of the Tiger cheerleaders are Jen Bishop, Sherrie Metcalf, and Michelle Pulk.

Heather Brown and Jana Craig represent the sophomore class while Susan Segien is the team’s only freshman. Alternate members of the squad are sophomore Tina Cummings and freshman Debora Pottle.

Coach Austin reported the team will not be performing its championship routine in the early rounds of the tournament since Segien is in Florida and the decision was made not to put the alternates at risk by having them perform a routine they weren’t comfortable with. It is Austin’s hope, ofShead continues to play until Segien returns.

Congratulations should also go out to the Eastern Maine teams who finished among the final four in this fourth annual event. Gardiner made it to the final four in Class A and Ellsworth in Class B. In Class C, Washington Academy of East Machias made the finals.

The Class D final four was an all Eastern-Maine event with last year’s state champion, Central Aroostook of Mars Hill, finishing second, followed by Greenville and Machias.