Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Oakwood's Rylan Wilson and the Oakwood cheerleading team perform during the preliminary round at the IHSA Competitive Cheerleading State Finals on Friday. The Comets advance to the championship round on Saturday for a shot at the small school state title. Earlier that morning Wilson was honored as an All-Stater in the sport.
BLOOMINGTON -
Oakwood brought their A-game earlier today to qualify for the championship round at the Illinois High School Association's
Competitive Cheer State Finals. They were one of two squads from their sectional that advanced to Saturday's title round at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Finishing in fifth place, the Comets earned an 89.44 from judges after their performance. Carterville slipped into the trophy round at #10, collecting an 88.06 to advance.
The Comets punched their ticket to state last week via a third-place finish at the Mascoutah Sectional behind DuQuoin, who finished first, and Harrisburg in second. Neither team advanced out of the preliminary round.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
A member of the Oakwood cheer squad shows her spirit during the squad's routine on Friday.
"Going into the championship round is an example of just how much hard work we put into this season, the unseen practice by the judges, and the dedication from every single athlete," said Rylan Wilson, the only male athlete on the 12-person squad. In his third year competing in the sport, Wilson was honored as an All-Stater by the
Illinois High School Cheerleading Coaches Organization (IHSCCO) before the preliminary round started. "I just hope we give it 100% again. I don't mind what place we finish in. It's just all or nothing."
One of two team captains, Jeslyn Rhodes, is happy to be part of the first team from the program to make it into the trophy round at the state cheer meet.
"Honestly, it just means so much. It shows how much hard work we all put in," Rhodes said. "We proved how well we can work together."
She gave a shout-out to fans and appreciated their support during their preliminary routine. "Our school came out to support us, and I'm just glad it was worth their time."
Joseylinda Nunez, the team's other captain, was proud of her teammates and their work ethic throughout the season.
"They really did work hard," she said, describing the effort the team put into learning two new routines at the beginning of the season. They focused on their 'Three Cs' - Confidence, Consistency & Clean. "I feel like our strength is us coming together and our energy."
This year's team is composed of 12 students, including Jett Pierce, Jeslyn Rhodes, Joseylinda Nunez, Rylan Wilson, Ireland Harrison, Khloe Estock, Chloe Vinson, Harlow Woodard, Karleigh Nelson, Arianna Finley, Brynlie Wait, Leanne Snow, Jaelyn Estock, and Sophia Aquino. The Comets are coached by fourth-year head coach Matteson Lee.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Members of the Oakwood competitive cheer team perform clean moves with confidence. Their attention to detail vaulted the program into its first foray in school history in day two competition at the annual IHSA state cheer competition.
The Oakwood cheer program has qualified for state seven times in the last decade. The Comets failed to make it out of the Mt. Vernon section last year, finishing behind St. Joseph-Ogden. The top five programs to advance last year were Breese Central and Mater Dei, Paris, New Berlin, and Robinson.
Now one of 10 teams, the Comets take the stage at noon to demonstrate their technical ability and competitive spirit while focused on bringing home the first state cheer trophy in school history.
Tickets for Saturday's finals competition are $12 at the door and can be purchased in advance online via
TicketMaster or by phone at the City Box Office at (309) 434-2777.a
Schedule for Saturday
Small & Medium School Competition
10:00 a.m. - Doors of the arena open to public
10:55 a.m. - Welcome & National Anthem
11:00 a.m. - Small and Medium Team Finals
(Small and Medium team performances alternate)
12:45 p.m. - Small Team Awards
1:15 p.m. - Medium Team Awards
State Small School competitive cheer results
1 - Columbia 93.82
2 - Breese (Mater Dei) 90.84
3 - Wheaton (St. Francis) 90.6
4 - Richmond (R.-Burton) 90.3
5 - Fithian (Oakwood) 89.44
6 - Breese (Central) 88.92
7 - Lexington 88.7
8 - Poplar Grove (North Boone) 88.6
9 - Wilmington 88.36
10 - Carterville 88.06
11 - Somonauk 87.6
12 - Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) 86.86
13 - Johnsburg 86.6
14 - Pinckneyville 86.48
15 - Marengo 86.32
16 - Joliet (Catholic Academy) 86.06
17 - Greenville 85.98
18 - Harrisburg 85.5
19 - DuQuoin (H.S.) 85.44
20 - Glasford (Illini Bluffs) 83.56
21 - Elmhurst (Timothy Christian) 83.32
22 - Pontiac 82.8
23 - Elgin (St. Edward) 81.39
24 - Roxana 81.14
25 - Farmington 80.8
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