VERGENNES — In their home gymnasium on Saturday night, the Vergennes Union High School cheerleaders earned a big margin in claiming the Division II championship.
The Commodore cheer team finished first in the eight-team competition with 155.5 points, easily outdistancing second-place Mill River (140.5) and third-place BFA-St. Albans (140).
The Commodores will next head to the New England competition in Rhode Island on March 18. The members of the team are Madison Ask, McKenzie Warden, Emma Duprey, Ashley Towle, Allysha Devoid, Paiton Tolme, Lydia Sabourin, Jenna Howlett and Brianna Billings.
Saturday’s success follows victories at the NVAC small varsity and Lake Division competitions for the 13th straight winters. Coach Jennifer Johnson said the team also picked up wins at Vermont Cheerleading Coaches’ Association and Central Vermont Cheerleading Competition events and enjoyed an undefeated season.
In recent years at the state competition, the Commodores had competed in Division I against larger powerhouse teams from schools such as Essex and Rutland. But this year’s VUHS team had fewer varsity members, and they dropped back down to Division II, where the Commodores have historically been successful.
That switch and dedication paid off, Johnson said.
“The girls worked so hard this year,” she said. “I’m a very proud coach.”   THE COMMODORE CHEERLEADERS compete during the Division II championships in Vergennes Saturday.
Courtesy photo