![Lemont finishes fifth at 2020 IHSA Medium Division Cheerleading State Finals]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1581194892/lhs210net/xwooawmr8bz7acw0q27d/2019-20_LHS_CheerStateFinals.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1581194892/lhs210net/xwooawmr8bz7acw0q27d/2019-20_LHS_CheerStateFinals.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1581194892/lhs210net/xwooawmr8bz7acw0q27d/2019-20_LHS_CheerStateFinals.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1581194892/lhs210net/xwooawmr8bz7acw0q27d/2019-20_LHS_CheerStateFinals.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1581194892/lhs210net/xwooawmr8bz7acw0q27d/2019-20_LHS_CheerStateFinals.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1581194892/lhs210net/xwooawmr8bz7acw0q27d/2019-20_LHS_CheerStateFinals.jpg","width":1800}])
The most successful cheerleading program in the history of the IHSA State Series continued its outstanding run by posting another top five state finals finish. Head coach Bree Grady’s squad placed fifth at the 2020 IHSA Medium Division Cheerleading State Finals, which were contested at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington on February 7-8. Lemont has finished among the state’s top five 15 times in as many seasons since the IHSA State Series began in 2006.
Lemont posted a final round score of 86.73. Antioch (93.33) won the IHSA Medium Division State Championship, with Oak Forest (93.29) and Columbia (91.43) earning state trophies and Hampshire (87.37) placing fourth. Lemont advanced to the second day of state finals competition by finishing fifth in the preliminary round with a score of 88.38.
Lemont (89.58) pulled out a narrow victory at the IHSA Joliet Central Sectional on February 1 to capture its sixth sectional title and earn its 15th straight state finals berth. Oak Forest (89.29), Tinley Park (88.31), Chicago Brooks (87.04) and Providence Catholic (86.17) rounded out the Medium Division state qualifiers from the IHSA Joliet Central Sectional. Lemont, Oak Forest and Tinley Park all are members of the South Suburban Conference.
Lemont’s previous IHSA Sectional titles came in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2018.
Grady’s team includes seniors Hailey Dennis, Kyra Feltz, Haley Nash, Claire O’Malley and Jenna Valenti; juniors Madison Dunbar, Hannah Nagel, Angelina Rita and Alyiah Ward; sophomores Abigail Cliff, Daleigh Johnson-Pawlak, Kaya Myrda, McKenna Phelan, Tess Sublette and Skylar Yabush; and freshmen Reese Dunbar, Abigail Nagel, Francesca Rita, Danielle Scumaci and Hunter Wilson.
The preliminary rounds for both the Small and Medium Divisions will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, with entries from the two divisions alternating. Lemont will be the final team to compete when it takes the mat at 1:10 p.m. The finals for the Medium Division will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, with the awards ceremony scheduled to follow at 1:15 p.m.
Tickets for the IHSA State Finals will be available at the door, and are $10 for both children and adults (children in hand are free) each session.
Cheerleading is the sixth Lemont High School sport to be represented in IHSA State Finals competition this year. Lemont was 12th at the IHSA Class 2A Girls’ Cross Country State Finals; Nick Kania and TJ Polen competed at the IHSA Class 2A Boys’ Cross Country State Finals; the dance team competed at the IHSA Class 2A Competitive Dance State Finals; Paulius Malcius was fifth at the IHSA Class 2A Boys’ Golf State Finals; and Isabella Calcagno participated at the IHSA Girls’ Swimming State Finals
.