EAST HAVEN, Conn. – The Plymouth State University cheerleading team placed third out of five schools on Saturday at the New England Open College Championships, finishing as the top Division III school.
Quinnipiac University won the five-team event, with Central Connecticut State University second, PSU third, Eastern Connecticut State University fourth, and Saint Joseph’s College (Maine) fifth. The teams were judged on their two-and-a-half-minute routine, which included a variety of gymnastics, tumbling, stunting, dancing, and aerials, in unison.
“We hit all of our stunts and routines, and we hit them all strong,” said seventh-year head coach Carrie Kiley. “We did very well and I’m proud of the ladies.”
The Panther cheerleaders are enjoying their first season as a varsity program at PSU. The team performed at home men’s and women’s basketball games all winter, and is now performing in spirit competitions. The next big event for PSU is the American Cheerleading Association’s College Nationals in Myrtle Beach on March 17th.
“That competition is huge,” said Kiley. “There will be about 20 teams there, in different divisions based on squad size. The high school nationals are also at the same place at the same time, so it’s a huge recruiting showcase, both for the schools and the girls.”
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