Revenge is truly best served gold. LCN’s Varsity Competitive Cheerleading team made an appearance at the MHSAA D1 2023 State Finals for the first time ever on March 2nd. 

   The 2022-2023 season was a memorable one for the lady crusaders. With a group of 13 seniors graduating last year, there was a great interest in how this season would go. Although they had a rocky start the season they went on to have the best competitive season LCN has ever seen, breaking a total of five school records and ending the season on the state finals mat. 

   Last season they started out on fire, setting a high score of 788.52 at Troy Athens High School. Unfortunately they couldn’t reach that score again. The last few competitions of the season ended with major defeating moments, including losing the district title and a spot at state finals. But after feeling that loss they were even more determined to finish the fight they started.

   Sophomore, Kara Konath stated, “…This year we have worked twice as hard, putting 110% into each practice and competition, determined not to fall short again. We will not feel the pain we felt last year ever again.”, when asked about the work ethic of the 22-23 team. 

   With a majority of the team being underclassmen, they went on to score the highest round three score in the state, a 321.50,  and break the 788.52 record set the previous year. Two weeks after that they went on to avenge themselves and won LCN’s first ever Cheer District Mitten. At Districts they scored a 238.50 in round one, a 232.50, in round two, and a 320.70 in round three, ending with a total score of 791.70. Making that the highest round one and total score in LCN history. 

   But they weren’t finished yet, the biggest fight would be the following Saturday at Stoney Creek High School. Finishing in one of the top four spots at Regionals grants a bid to advance to state finals. With there being only two Regions for D1, they went against the best of the best, meaning what separates 1st from 12th place is one point. LCN’s Region is particularly hard going against teams like Rochester, Rochester Adams, Stoney Creek, Woodhaven, and Plymouth.  All of the very best teams in the state of Michigan. Last year they held onto that fourth place spot by 0.04 until the third round when Plymouth got the jump on them. 

   This year they held onto fourth place the entire competition with Sterling Heights Stevenson following closely behind them. For the first time ever LCN advanced out of Regionals and represented our school in the State Finals at Center Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. They ended up finishing 6th in the state with a total score of 780.34, only one point behind Grandville High School. 

   Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Varsity Competitive Cheer team on a legendary season, you paved the way for many years to come.