BANGOR – Saturday’s victories were a long time in the making for the cheering teams from Rockland and Lewiston.

The Tigers won the Maine High School Class B state title for their first-ever state cheerleading championship while the Lewiston Blue Devils averted an orange-and-black sweep by edging Brewer and winning their first Class A state crown since 1991.

While both teams used solid performances in the preliminary rounds as springboards to championship hardware, Rockland had to come from behind while the Blue Devils grabbed the lead and held tight to walk out of the Bangor Auditorium with that coveted hardware.

Rockland’s Tigers had to find a way to improve enough to offset a two-point Old Town lead in the prelims while Lewiston had to deal with the injury and loss of a key team member heading into the finals.

Class B – After winning an Eastern Maine B title two weeks ago, the Tigers were determined not to waste the opportunity it provided.

“This is so exciting,” said Jaime Fogg, the only senior member of the Tigers’ squad. “Rockland hasn’t had a call-back in states for seven years, so just for that to happen was amazing.”

Rather than be satisfied with that, the Tigers wanted more, and after scoring 741/2 points in the prelims, they were certain they could get more.

“I think we were pretty confident after we did so well in the prelims,” Fogg said. “The second round is always easier.”

Rockland used an 1980s musical program and combined it with what coach Mary Sidelinger calls “one of our most diverse programs” to come up with a winner.

It didn’t hurt that Rockland had four boys, all of whom are tumblers, to allow the team to do more difficult stunts.

“I think what did it for us was our tumbling,” Sidelinger said. “We really picked up our numbers on that. We had seven this year and I think we’re the only team here with four boys. That adds a lot of strength to your program.”

Rockland’s routine was even cleaner the second time around, while perennial power Old Town saw its point total drop from 761/2 to 74 due to a bobble and stagger on one of three lifts, and went from first to third. Poland scored 741/2 to win its first state runner-up trophy.

Rockland’s young squad, which includes nine juniors, two sophomores, and two freshmen, also includes Lindsey Appleby, Stacia Matthews, Beth Allen, Dianne Grade, Melissa Leiter, Matthew Haj, Dean Hale, Gretchen Appleby, Bri Thivierge, Trevor Davis, Jesse Passmore, Charissa Cayouette, Heather Brown, Kasey Bowie, Ryan Curtin, and Sean Curtin.

Class A – Despite not having even been to the state meet in two years, the Blue Devils got in the swing of things early.

Lewiston followed up a solid Brewer routine which netted the Witches the then-highest score of the day (811/2), by using a unique swing/big band music routine six months in the making and punctuated by numerous stunts and tumbling exercises to score 831/4.

“It’s gutsy, definitely, because it’s not your standard music,” said first-year coach Deneka Fortier. “The scariest part of this whole thing was presenting this music to the girls. I mean, they’re teenagers. But when I did, their faces lit up. I was so shocked, but the music sold itself.”

So did the routine.

“We had a really cool theme this year,” said senior tri-captain Stephanie Nelson. “It went really well with the music and the stunts and everything. It just really flowed.”

And the Devils flowed through the finals too as they scored 843/4 to Brewer’s 831/2.

“It’s kind of one those programs that you remember when you go away,” said Brewer coach Kristie Reed. “It was a great routine they had.”