The Plymouth State University Cheerleading team returned to Plymouth from their New England Open College Championships appearance in Connecticut after placing third in the weekend competition. “We hit all of our stunts strong and I am very proud of their performance,” said head coach Carrie Kiley, who is in her seventh year at the helm of the squad.
The girls finished in first place of the three Division III schools that made the trip to Connecticut. The other schools included, Eastern Connecticut and Saint Joseph’s College along with Plymouth State University. The other two participants in the championships included Division I Central Connecticut State University who placed second and Quinnipiac University, who ended up taking home first place. The judging in the competition focused on various forms of stunts, dance, tumbling as well as aerials performed by the teams with maximum efficiency in the two-and-a-half minute routines.
Kiley seemed very proud of her team’s performance after they had returned and looked forward to their up-coming trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the American Cheerleading Association’s College Nationals on March 17.
“This is going to be a huge event for us as well as the other squads that are showing up,” said Kiley. “The high school nationals are going to be in the same place at the same time, so it is going to be a huge event and I’m excited.” The event will showcase about 20 teams, according to Kiley, and she is hopeful for her team’s performance.