By LIAM O’BRIEN
Waltham Times Contributing Writer
Top row left to right: Kaylee Peterson, Brynn Connolly, Jizelle Morpeau, Erin Noonan, McKenna Collins, Olivia Priore.
The Waltham High School cheer team is no stranger to team success. With 13 consecutive Dual County League titles, head coach Kerrie Blanchard has established a culture of excellence in the program.
Despite graduating six seniors last spring and fielding a team of just nine varsity athletes this fall, Waltham was able to keep its run of achievements rolling in 2024. The Hawks capped off the season by placing third out of 15 teams at the Division 2 level of the MSAA 2024 Fall Cheerleading State Championship at Worcester State University on Nov. 24.
“The team killed it,” Blanchard said. “They did awesome. From the beginning of the season until states, they just put their hearts and souls into it. They were all great kids that bought into it, were passionate, committed and hard-working.”
Waltham High notched the third spot with a final score of 87.6, just shy of the 88.5 mark garnered by Masconomet Regional High School and the title-clinching 94.5 tally that Billerica Memorial High School recorded.
“The two teams that beat us had 15 and 20 girls competing on the mat,” said Blanchard, who has been coaching at the high school for 13 seasons and cheered for the team herself in the 1980s. “They were just a little more powerful than us. But I am extremely proud of our team. Not everyone gets the opportunity to go to the state level.”
The Hawks received balanced contributions from all nine athletes on the squad over the course of their run. After switching from co-ed competition to an all-girls division going into the season, the team relied on a cohesive unit all the way to Worcester.“It wasn’t like you had to pull someone up, help one or two athletes get to where we wanted,” Blanchard said. “Everyone had the same mindset and that was the greatest part of the season. There wasn’t a straggler or someone that had a bad attitude. Every single one of those nine athletes gave 100%, were dedicated and respectful.”
The state championship always calls for a long day for those competing, and Waltham fans showed up en masse to help pump up the athletes throughout the event. The high school organized a fan bus to help Hawks supporters make the trek west down the Mass Pike.
“We get amazing support from the student body and the Waltham community,” Blanchard said. “We have so many fans who traveled to Worcester State University to watch us. I always want to thank the community for their support.”
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