Co-ed cheer team advances to state for first time
By Vanessa Lenz
SLN Staff
When East Troy High School’s varsity cheerleaders were forced to make some major changes to their lineup this winter, they had no idea they would become school trailblazers during the process.
On Saturday, East Troy’s charter co-ed cheerleading squad will compete at the Wisconsin Association of Cheer/Pom Coaches State Cheer Championships for the first time in ETHS history.
The road to get to the state’s main stage has not been easy.
Things looked bright this fall for the cheerleading squad, which captured its second consecutive Rock Valley Conference title during the Oct. 27 conference Cheer and Dance competition. It was the cheer team’s fourth championship title since 2006.
Carrie Luedtke said despite the success, the East Troy team still had to make the long journey to cheer regionals to qualify for state.
“As the season progressed the team consistently placed first, even nabbing a bid to Nationals,” explained Luedtke. “In January, we hit a road bump that could have sent this team on a downward spiral, by losing a valuable team member.”
Luedtke said cheerleader Hailee McGuire had to drop the remainder of the season after making a commitment to her future that didn’t allow her to attend team practices.
“She was a big part of our team,” said Luedtke.
Six weeks before the regional competition, the Trojan cheerleaders were approached by three young men interested in joining the previously female-dominated squad, according to Luedtke.
Brandon Matz, Jon Woods and Mitchell Sullivan each brought a different perspective to the team, but Luedtke said their athletic backgrounds were a key part of East Troy’s success.
“We are a very athletic team of girls, so any boy we took on to the team needed to be able to meet or beat their strength and stamina,” Luedtke said.
Matz, a junior, is best known as the East Troy varsity football team’s starting quarterback. This fall, he was an All-Rock Valley Conference first team selection.
The other two boys are also talented athletes.
Sullivan plays for both the ETHS football and baseball teams and Woods has seen success on the track and cross country teams.
Luedtke said the addition of the boys was both a challenge and a blessing for the squad.
“Including boys changed our division from All-Girl Large to Co-ed Small, though very much a challenge, we felt the change also gave us a greater chance to make it to state,” Luedtke said.
She said the All-Girl division has long been dominated by powerhouse teams.
“Year after year we have struggled at team regionals,” Luedtke said.
Although moving to Small-Coed still put East Troy against successful teams, such as Brown Deer, Racine Horlick and Milwaukee Rufus King, Luedtke said it put her team on more of an even playing field.
“Each and every one of our kids worked overtime in the following weeks and their hard work paid off,” she said.
The varsity team finished in third place on Feb. 16 at the Wisconsin Association of Cheer/Pom Coaches Southern Regional Competition at Wilmot Union High School to advance to the state championships. The WACPC is endorsed by the WIAA to hold the official Wisconsin Cheer, Pom and Dance Regional and State meets.
Several cheerleaders will compete as individuals at state following their performances at the conference meet last fall.
East Troy’s “gold quad” mates Amanda Mudlaff, Rachel Dentice, Keanna Young and Breanna Wendorf moved on after earning second place in the stunt division at conference.
In the All-Conference cheer division, sophomore Sydney Scadden advanced after earning first team honors.
East Troy’s cheer stunt quads and individuals have been qualifying for state, through the conference meet, on a yearly basis since 2004.
State competition will be held on Feb. 23 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
Doors open to spectators at 8 a.m. and team performances begin at 9 a.m. General admission is $10. Children 5 and younger will be admitted for free.
Luedtke said she hopes to remain a co-ed squad next year.
“I feel that having our starting quarterback join cheer raised some eyebrows, she said.
Luedtke is hoping it will be the catalyst to bring others to the team for the competitive season.
“We most certainly hope that this season will encourage male athletes that don’t have a winter sport, to come out for cheer,” she said.
