At Lumberton, being a cheerleader comes with pressure to win.
Even before the UIL first sanctioned state championship competitions for cheerleading in 2016, the Raiders were known as the best in Southeast Texas. In the years since, Lumberton has proven that reputation to be true.
Last Saturday, the Raiders cheerleading team won it’s second straight state title at the Class 4A-I level, capping an impressive four-year run for Lumberton that’s included two second-place finishes, and now the back-to-back championships.
Upon returning to school on Tuesday, the Raiders finally got to celebrate with a surprise gathering for the team.
Lumberton’s locker room was turned into a party scene, with balloons and streamers hanging from the ceiling. Pictures from Saturday’s event in Fort Worth were plastered all over the walls. The championship trophies were on full display next to a cake with “Back to Back” written in icing.
When the team walked in, the emotions of Saturday’s win came pouring back.
“The only place you can go from first is down, unless you win again,” said senior Addison Hernandez said, who could hardly contain her excitement as she admired the locker room decorations.
“We put so much pressure on ourselves, so when they called our names for first place, it was the best feeling in the world,” she added. “Now getting to celebrate that today is just as amazing.”
Tuesday’s celebration was organized by Hernandez’s mother, Kim, who serves as president of Lumberton’s cheer club. Her voice was still hoarse from yelling throughout the weekend.
She’s been there every step of the way during Lumberton’s four-year streak.
“To see them win it again was like a dream come true,” Kim said. “We wanted to do something special for them.”
At the UIL state competition, teams are judged on a point system based on different events. Fight song and band chants count as one category, while crowd leading counts as another.
Lumberton scored a 45.25 in fight songs and band chants, and a 46.05 in crowd leading. The cumulative score of 91.30 was good enough for first place, nearly two points better than the runner-up, Argyle.
The Raiders weren’t the only Southeast Texas team with a strong showing at state. Hardin-Jefferson finished second in Class 4A-II, while Little Cypress-Mauriceville earned sixth place in 4A-I.
Kirbyville was third in Class 3A-II, and Port Neches-Groves finished 18th in 5A-II.
Hernandez said the competition is much different than cheerleading during a regular Friday night football game, and allows for the girls to “show what their made of.”
“At football games, we can get pushed to the side sometimes,” Hernandez said. “At state, people are there to watch you.”
The cheerleading schedule “never really ends,” according to Hernandez. The team has football season in the fall, then trains for the annual UIL competition in January. Nationals will come in February, with tryouts for next year’s squad coming in March.
Per UIL rules, Lumberton had 20 cheerleaders on the floor last weekend, with two alternates called up from the junior varsity squad.
Lumberton now has its sights set on next month’s national championship event in Orlando, Florida. The Raiders took third last year, and are hoping for some “redemption”
“We have built a name for ourselves,” Hernandez said. “Just to be a part of this legacy and build it is insane.”
Matt Faye is a Sports Reporter and Columnist for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact him at MFaye@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here.
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