Lemont Cheerleading Takes Second Place At IHSA State Finals

LEMONT, IL — Lemont picked up its record 13th state trophy, as the school's cheerleading team finished in second place at the 2021 IHSA Medium Division Cheerleading state finals, the school said. The cheerleading program has finished among the state's top five 16 times in 16 seasons since the state series began in 2006, according to the school.

Head coach Bree Grady's squad posted a score of 96.87 in state finals competition, which consisted of one round this year and was held virtually. Its score is the third-highest by any team at any level in IHSA State Finals history, the school said.

According to the school, it took an all-time great effort for Oak Forest to hold off Lemont for the 2021 IHSA Medium Division State Championship, as it established a new state record with its winning score of 97.53. The previous high score of 97.06 was set by Lincoln-Way East when it won the 2014 IHSA Large Division State Championship.

Vernon Hills (96.44), Highland (95.97), Lakes (95.24) and Morris (95.24) rounded out the top five places, the school said. All IHSA State Series competition in cheerleading was held virtually during the 2021 season, with teams uploading videos of performances for the judges to evaluate.

Lemont also finished as the SSC Blue runner-up to Oak Forest earlier this season.

Grady’s team includes seniors Hannah Nagel and Alyiah Ward; juniors Abigail Cliff, Daleigh Johnson-Pawlak, Kaya Myrda, McKenna Phelan, Tess Sublette and Skylar Yabush; sophomores Abigail Nagel, Sydney Nelson, Francesca Rita and Hunter Wilson; and freshmen Fawne Ford, Emily Hunt and Molly Tucker.

Lemont’s cheerleading squad is one of only three athletic programs in school history to win an IHSA team state championship, having done so in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2018. The Indians also finished as state runners-up in 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2016, and brought home third-place trophies in 2006 and 2012, according to the school.