by
Jamie Sarna
The Deer Isle-Stonington High School cheerleaders went back to the Bangor Auditorium ready to rock the place on February 12. And—according to the fans that packed the place—they did. The team pulled an upset, coming from a third place finish in regional competition two weeks ago, to a very close second at the state championship with a spirited and difficult routine. The full title they brought home is “2011 Runners-Up Class D. ”
Coach Kim Larsen was delighted with the performance. “They awed the fans. We had five of the 11 girls up in stunts at one time or another, which is a pretty incredible feat.”
Another incredible feat? Coach Larsen motivated her athletes to this stirring performance several days after losing her voice, a double occupational hazard as she teaches English at the high school. Larsen has been coaching for more than 25 years, following her own cheering career at Lock Haven State University in Pennsylvania.
Larsen continued, “The Deer Isle-Stonington squad is a talented group of young women with high intensity. Our lone senior, Kelsey Davis, is also our captain. We’re already making plans for next year, and we have a lot of talent coming up.”
