Lemont Cheerleading Advances to IHSA State Finals for the 12th Straight Season

Lemont High School’s cheerleading squad finished third in the Medium Division at the IHSA Andrew Sectional on January 28, securing the program’s 12th straight state finals berth. The Indians will be gunning for their fifth state championship when they compete at the 2017 IHSA Medium Division Cheerleading State Finals, which will be contested at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, Ill., on Friday, February 3, and Saturday, February 4. Lemont has won 10 state trophies in 11 previous state finals appearances, and never has finished lower than fourth in state finals competition.

Lemont’s cheerleading squad is one of only two athletic programs in school history to win an IHSA team state championship, having done so in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014. The Indians also finished as state runners-up in 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2016, and brought home third-place trophies in 2006 and 2012.

Coach Dave Erlenbaugh’s Indians qualified for the 2017 IHSA State Finals after finishing third of 13 teams in the Medium Division with a score of 79.33. Oak Forest (91.27) won the IHSA Sectional crown, while Tinley Park (85.96), Rich South (78.13) and Hinsdale South (75.43) rounded out the Medium Division state qualifiers from the IHSA Andrew Sectional. Lemont, Oak Forest and Tinley Park all are members of the South Suburban Conference.

Earlier this season, Lemont captured its fourth straight SSC title.

Erlenbaugh’s team includes seniors Claudia DeSantis, Alyssa Gorski, Caitlyn Henry, Olivia LaDuke, Morgan Pukula and Gianna Sabanov; juniors Gia Baldassano, Rebecca Bertram, Katie Boyle, Andrew Gonzalez, Julie Hughes, Claudia Kociubinski, Lucy Kraker and Stephanie Pinczes; sophomores Lizzie Adell, Juliana DeSantis and Kate Roenitz; and freshman Hailey Dennis.

The preliminary rounds for both the Small and Medium Divisions will begin at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, with entries from the two divisions alternating. The finals for the Medium Division will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, with the awards ceremony scheduled to follow at 1:15 p.m.

Tickets for the IHSA State Finals will be available at the door, and are $10 for both children and adults (children in hand are free) each session.

Cheerleading is the fifth Lemont High School sport to be represented in IHSA State Finals competition this year. The girls’ cross country team was 14th at the Class 2A State Finals; the dance team was 14th at the Class 2A State Finals; the boys’ golf team was 11th at the Class 2A State Finals; and Sylvia Kobylak competed at the IHSA Swimming State Finals.