Cheering three-peat
LHS cheer and dance teams top State Spirit competition
It was a three-peat for the Lovell High School cheerleading squad as the team won the Game Day Cheer competition at the Wyoming State Spirit Competition Friday in Casper.
The school also captured first place in the Hip Hop Dance competition, giving Lovell the top trophy in two of the three categories the school competed in.
Lovell placed third in Jazz Dance.
It was a sweet victory for the cheerleading team as the Lovell squad moved up to Class 3A after winning the Class 2A Game Day Cheer title in both 2023 and 2024. Competing in a field of 11 3A teams this year, the Lovell cheer team won again, dethroning 2024 3A champion Mountain View with a score of 89.15 points to 88.9 for Mountain View and 87.85 for third place Powell.
“We knew competing in 3A was going to be tough,” Lovell coach Nicole Hendershot said. “The division is highly competitive, and as soon as the competition started, we saw just how strong the other teams were. Their routines were impressive, and we knew we had to bring our absolute best to have a shot at the title. Before they took the mat, I told the team that we had to hit it with full energy from start to finish, be loud and put up clean stunts. Those few things could be the difference between winning and falling short. More than anything, I wanted them to trust their training and enjoy the moment.
“When they finished performing, I couldn’t have been prouder. They did exactly what we practiced and what I had hoped for. They left it all on the mat, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach. When we walked off, we felt like we had done everything we could.”
The moment Lovell was announced as the champion was dramatic, Hendershot said.
“The award ceremony is always nerve-wracking,” she noted. “Every team out there has worked so hard and wants to take home that trophy. But fighting for a third straight title with the jump from 2A to 3A definitely came with added pressure. We were feeling it. When they announced Mountain View, the previous 3A Gameday champions, as second place, my heart stopped. At that moment, we knew it could go either way. My hands were shaking, and then they called Lovell as the winner. I was in disbelief.
“I knew we were going to be competitive, but I don’t know if I fully believed we could pull off a third straight win, especially after moving up to 3A. To see all the hard work, dedication and teamwork come together like this -- it’s just incredible. I couldn’t be more proud of these athletes.”
Members of the team are seniors Whitney Hendershot and Shalon Wilkerson; juniors Ella Spanier, Haley Sanders, Ashley Mangus, Lynn Marchant, Angela Lopez, Savannah Prentiss, Atlee Sanders and Chase Crosby; and sophomores Lindsey Scheid-Leonhardt, Avery Wardell, Kylie Carabay, Jaelen Mayes, Denna Slater, Caitlyn Allen and Candace Walker.
“I want to give a huge thank you to our community for their incredible support throughout this journey,” Hendershot said. “From the parents, teachers and students to everyone who cheered us on from afar, we felt the love every step of the way. A special thank you to the fire department and the sheriff’s department for the amazing welcome home celebration -- it was truly unforgettable. Having that kind of support makes all the difference, and we are so grateful to represent this town.”
Dance team
The LHS dance team brought home two medals from the State Spirit competition. The team won the 3A Hip Hop division with a score of 79, edging out Cokeville at 78.825. Powell placed third with a score of 77.65, Lyman fourth at 76.05.
Lovell placed third in the 3A Jazz division with a score of 75.675. Powell won the Jazz division with a score of 76.7, followed by Lyman at 75.725, eking out second ahead of Lovell.
“We competed in the Jazz category first, and I knew the girls were worried and stressed about this routine,” coach Kari Angell said. “We had made a few changes within the last couple of weeks to try and clean certain sections of the routine. And being their first routine of the night, nerves are expected. Regardless, these girls exceeded my expectations. They pushed through the nerves and put a beautiful routine out on that floor. Their beginning was definitely a ‘wow’ moment.
“They did a great job of playing into the suspenseful moments. Even though we struggled a bit with facials, they did really well portraying the emotion of the routine. The judges thought they projected well and really did a nice job of using the floor. I was a little disappointed by the overall results of the Jazz category. Unfortunately, the judging is subjective, and it is ultimately left in the hands of those judges. Regardless, I am still extremely proud of the team’s Jazz performance.”
Then the team nailed the Hip Hop routine.
“The 3A Hip Hop category started after the judges’ break, and we were up first,” Angell said. “It was the perfect routine to resume the competition. They had a lot more confidence, and their nerves by then had subsided. They were more than ready to take the floor with this routine. Their energy was strong from start to end. They had great execution with every move, and they were so sharp and clean.
“The judges made positive comments about the girls’ facials and expression. They thought the girls had a ‘great entertainment factor.’ The team really did an amazing job portraying the ‘Barbie’ theme. The costumes were also a big hit and tied in very well. The girls had several compliments from fellow competitors throughout the night. I knew without a doubt the girls would nail this routine but was still floored with how well they performed it. Their first place was definitely well deserved.”
Angell said the All State Dance Team performed at the end of the night, before results were announced, and all three Lovell girls -- Anastyn Leithead, Livee James and Ella Spanier -- did “a wonderful job representing their team,” adding, “It was a great experience for them to be able to showcase their talent with other dancers from around the state.”
Members of the team are seniors Leithead and Livee James; juniors Spanier and Addison James; sophomores Caitlyn Allen, Lindsey Scheid-Leonhardt, Addisyn Perkins, Denna Slater, Paige Spenny, Candace Walker and Avery Wardell; and freshmen Juliette Caldwell, Isabella Martinez and Kelce Winterholler.
All of the team’s hard work paid off, Angell said.
“I can’t put into words how proud I am of this team,” she said. “They are a group of incredible athletes with so much talent. They have a strong work ethic, great attitudes and so much respect for each other and their coaches. They have worked tirelessly and have put in a lot of hours since day one to get to this point.
“For the past two months, it’s been practices for two hours, Monday through Friday, and a few three-hour Saturday practices. So to say a lot of time and tedious effort has been put in is an understatement. But the girls did it with great attitudes, because they know what it takes, and they love what they do.
“It was such a special and surreal moment to see all that hard work rewarded with that first-place trophy, and even more special to have our own athletic director (Chris Edwards) be the one to present them their trophy.”