The 2007 Cheering Team had a motto of “One Vision” and they certainly fulfilled it in their 2007 season. Under the guidance of head coach Kristie Reed, in her eighth season at Brewer, and assistant coach Christina (Bush) Paradis, this team of nineteen girls swept the entire regular competition season that culminated in the first Class A State Championship in Brewer cheering history. Led by the three senior captains, Ali Caron, Courtney Wright and Kristin Wood, this team had a chemistry unlike any of the previous seasons having lost no seniors the year prior. “We had a chance to really build on our technical skills and our bond as a squad. I remember our motto of “One Vision” from our routine’s music was a perfect description of how we worked together towards the same goal,” says Ali Caron. Their competition music was a compilation of hits from the legendary rock band Queen, whose hit “One Vision” inspired their motto. “The teamwork and heart that went into winning this state championship is one of my favorite accomplishments. I’ll always remember these girls for the talent and grit that was demonstrated every day at practice. It was an honor to be a captain on a team with such talented athletes and to share in this monumental achievement with them” reflects Courtney Wright. Other team members included juniors: Dominique DeFilipp, Kelly Cyr, Tara Geaghan, Alicia Hallahan, Kasey Lingley, Ashley Martin, Ashley Smith, and Alycia Stevens; sophomores: Jessica Currier, Mackenzie DeGraff, Taylor DiFrederico, Jenna Duran, Kayla Triplett, Alexa Washburn and Jewels Watson; and sole freshman Martina Bosse.
Cheering is a unique team sport, only as good as the weakest link, where it is difficult to hide any imperfections as cheerleaders are judged on synchronicity and cohesiveness. Nearly Brewer’s entire team could do advanced tumbling, which helped set their skills apart and increased their routine’s level of difficulty from their competitors. Many team members attended additional tumbling classes weekly throughout the year in addition to their daily practice schedule and courtside home basketball game commitments.
The 2007 Cheering Team’s journey began January 13th with the Penobscot Valley Championship. The competition rolled out a new two-round format with Class A and Class B competing separately with the victor determined by the average of their scores. Brewer scored 138.8 and 144.8 with an average of 141.8, a clear ten-point victory over the rest of Class A, securing Brewer’s first PVC title since 2004.
The Cheering Team had very few practices during the week between PVC’s and the Big East Championship due to classic Maine January snowstorms on Monday and Friday, yet they focused on the little things where they were losing some points as well as modified a section. The team felt they had a dead spot going from a hitch pyramid to scorpion stunts (where the flyers pull the foot up behind the head), so they pivoted and chose to keep the flyers up at the top of the pyramid for the duration of that piece instead of bringing them down. These adjustments landed them with improved scores of 140.2 and 145.3 in the two-round format, which earned the Witches the Big East Championship. Their extremely high average, which again determined the victory, was 142.75, 12.85 points ahead of second place, Bangor. The Witches are setting the stage for an epic season and their “One Vision” is coming to life.
The new season high score of 145.3 might have been sufficient for another title, but it was lower than the high expectations the team had set for themselves, particularly with a team so full of talent, grit, and passion. The following week a flu outbreak on the team left only three practices with the full team present to prepare for the Eastern Maine Championships on January 27th. With only one chance to nail it due to the single round format, they gave it everything they had and did just that. Landing an impressive winning score of 154.2 points, (nine-point gain over their score the previous week) and 6.7 points ahead of second place Lewiston, Brewer swept another competition and was now Eastern Maine Champions. This was Brewer’s fourth regional crown in the last six years.
Undefeated and riding out the success of the Eastern Maine competition, the team made no tweaks to their routine going into the state championship on February 10th. This final competition followed the two-round format, with the victor determined by the highest average score. Performing in front of a fired-up hometown crowd at the Bangor Auditorium, Brewer scored a season high of 155.9 in the first round. This edged out defending State champion, Lewiston, to qualify and move on to the final round, despite both teams suffering the same 5-point deduction in the first round of competition. Lewiston was a notoriously fierce competitor having won three of the last four state titles. Brewer scored a 163.7 in their second round, nosing out Biddeford by just three-tenths of a point who was leading the competition after the first round. A flawless performance in the finals with no deductions for their double-twisting dismount made all the difference. This made Brewer the first team north of Gardiner to take home the Class A state championship cheering trophy. For the seniors, this meant they had consecutively improved every year having placed fourth, third, second, and finally first at states during their high school cheering careers. “The 2007 Brewer Cheering team was one of my most favorite teams to coach of all time! They were true leaders, teammates and champions! They worked hard in practices and performed with heart at competitions! I hope they always remember what it felt like to reach that dream of winning States!” says Coach Kristie Reed reflecting on the accomplishments of the season. Following their title, the Bangor Daily News named Brewer’s cheering squad “High School Players of the Week: Girls, Big School” for their impressive season sweep.
Winning the Class A state championship also punched a ticket for them to continue their competitive season and attend the New England Cheering competition on March 17th in New Hampshire. Representing their city and state with pride, they finished in fourth-place. Kristin Wood fondly remembers that season: “I believe the results and success we had from our season were in direct correlation with not only the talent and hard work, but the buy-in of the team. Our team had an infamous coach and amazing leadership that painted the big picture and the vision for what was possible. We saw it and had the desire to achieve it.”
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INDUCTION OF THE 2007 CHEERING TEAM
Members of the 2007 Cheering Team at their Induction Ceremony 2023