Earlier this month, Warren topped second-place Oil City 85.40-80.65 to win the 2A Large School Division D10 title at the Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie. It was WAHS’ second straight District 10 championship.

“The team is extremely proud of the accomplishments that they have made the last two years,” said head coach Melissa Feaster. “As a coach, I can see that the accomplishments have made their focus and drive stronger for trying, achieving and mastering more advanced skills. Since winning the District 10 Large Division title this year, there has been more focus and energy at practices. Collectively as a team, we decided to take two of the three weeks between districts and states to work on advancing the skills that are in the routine. If these new skills aren’t mastered a week before we depart for states, they aren’t going in the routine. We want one solid week of practices before states to run the routine we will hit the mat with over, over, and over again.

“States is at the Giant Center in Hershey,” Feaster added. “The preliminary round is on Friday, Jan. 28, and there will be 120 teams (61 Class 3A qualifiers and 59 Class 2A qualifiers) competing from all over the state. We are competing against 15 2A Large Varsity teams. There are several local teams from District 9 and 10 (Oil City, Johnsonburg High School, Elk County Catholic High School and Karns City) in our panel. The top 25% will be finalists and the next 25% of the panel will be semifinalists at finals on Saturday, Jan. 29.

“In previous years, we have always treated states as a learning experience,” she said. “This year, we have set goals; we have been working extremely hard to progress a few of our skills and continue to work on the perfection of the routine. That’s the thing, in the sport of Competitive Spirit, our two minutes and 30 seconds on the mat needs to be perfected because deductions can take titles away from even the best of the best teams.”

Photo submitted to Times Observer

With two straight D10 titles and even more trips to states, the culture of cheerleading is definitely changing in Warren.

“Yes, I believe it’s taken a while for some people to truly appreciate what the girls can do,” said Feaster. “Unfortunately, that has been one of the team’s underlining issues and motivators the last couple years; let’s prove to everyone that we deserve to be recognized. Last year, the girls finally felt the love and appreciation from the school and community.”

With that appreciation comes added pressure.

No sweat.

“Going to states three out of the four years I have been in the process has definitely earned us the respect of some of the best schools in D10,” said Warren senior Jaelyn Mohney. “I love representing our school and having the next generation of cheerleaders look up to us.”

It’s easy to call it a special journey.

“In the Warren area cheer program, we have experienced multiple ups and downs,” said senior cheerleader Addison Downer. “During my freshman year, I remember leaving to go to states and I remember all the seniors being very upset of some tweet that was made about us going to states. People didn’t really know the potential that we had at the time. I remember thinking, how can we fix this? Why are we being treated like this? Finally, with more experience with the team and more experience with Melissa’s coaching, we finally showed our hometown what we’re made of. The support that we get now is unbelievable and I am very grateful for it. For people to be saying that we’re headed in the right direction and we could make it to the second day of states is phenomenal. I never thought that we could really have much support in this town. We have reflected on what this does to a team and we wish to never put that on somebody. Although, it did make our team closer and it made us want to work harder. That’s how we got here and that’s how we won D10 championships. We always hear that we’re nothing and that we won’t compare, but it just makes us push harder. The cheer program is heading in the right direction and, boy, did it take time to do so. Cheerleading is such a mental and physical sport. Not only did we grow with the town’s support, but we really grew with our own support. You make such good bonds and relationships in cheerleading; a lot of it has to do with the trust that comes with the sport.”

Such strength in her words. You wouldn’t think it would be so difficult to support a cheerleading team that has been so supportive.

“A true love of cheering and cheering on the football and basketball teams, too,” Feaster said of Downey.

The PIAA championship format is broken into five classifications — 2A Small Varsity, 3A Small Varsity, 2A Large Varsity, 3A Large Varsity, and Co-Ed Varsity, based on school sizes.

“This event is extremely important to our program and team,” said Feaster. “The District 10 Competitive Spirit championships is one of two competition events (D10 and states) the school and school district recognizes. The District 10 championship event is the one-and-only shot the team has to bring an award, a huge honor, back to our school and community. Moreover, this is the one and only shot the team has to make it to states. This is the first time that Warren cheer has brought back-to-back titles to the school.”

In addition to Downer and Mohney, seniors include Olivia Goss and Jayden Slack; juniors, Lauren Andersen, Emma Carlson, Ryleigh Ecklund, Alexa Eger, Madelyn Flannery, Abigail Kent, Jayna Phillips, and Molly Suppa; sophomores, Ella Bouchard, Elena Brocklehurst, and Lauren Shattuck; and freshmen, Annette Carrington, Rachel Christy, Shaina Critzer, Hailey Graham, Maddelyn Herzog, Hannah Lockamy, Kendra Noe, Neveah Seekins, and Emily Sudul.

“We have gotten bigger and better skills and technique,” said Goss, a Youngsville High School senior who co-ops. “We have become closer as a team, wanting to win D10 championships and going to states each year.”

The motivation doesn’t end at trophies.

“We have became more of a team and a family since we all started,” said Slack, a senior. “It’s like a second home we all have. … We may push ourselves and bodies hard every day, but at the end of the day, we all love each other and know the hard work we all put in as a team/family will pay off in the end, and we are all proud of ourselves.

“Cheer really saved me,” added Slack. “I never thought a ‘silly’ team would change me as a person, but it has. Having all of you guys and Melissa as a coach is the best thing that’s happened to me in my life. Having somewhere to go and just let loose. Cheer might just be another sport to some people, but it’s a place that you can be yourself and you’re safe; a place to let loose and get everything out. It’s a family. A different kind of bond. I’m so grateful for every single individual on the team. and I’m going to tear up now guys.”

There are no benchwarmers in this family.

“Truly all the members of the team deserved to be recognized,” said Feaster. “In the sport of cheering, there is not a sideline or a bench that we can pull from. It truly must be a team effort on and off the mat. If an athlete becomes injured or ineligible, I can’t call on the next best to put in their place. Unfortunately, I must change the entire routine.”

Routines that have grown and evolved, especially resulting in a second straight D10 championship.

“High school cheerleading seems to evolve every year in the expectations and guidelines for stunting, especially in the last three or four years,” said Feaster. “The level of difficulty has become much more advanced. When I became the head coach seven years ago, the team was good. However, they were not doing the stunting skill sets that this team is doing. I would have never even allowed the team to attempt the skills that the girls are doing now. Over the last two years, I have been doing a lot of stunting progressions with the varsity. The girls roll their eyes at me when I say ‘progressions,’ but I truly believe practicing progressions is why they can do the skills they can, and the reason they can do them with mastery.”