- December 26, 2024
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The Matanzas Pirates competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Matanzas Pirates competitive cheerleading team: Kendall Duckett, Madeline Gautreau and Lauren Orlando. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Matanzas Pirates competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Pirate Kendall Duckett motivates the team to bring the energy in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Matanzas Pirates competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ashlyn Gilyard cheers the crowd during regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Matanzas Pirates competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Catholic Moore High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Matanzas Pirates Lauren Orlando and Madeline Gautreau (front) lead their competitive cheerleading team during regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Pirate Joslyn Ruiz stands tall as Matanzas performs during regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Matanzas Pirates competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs team captains, Madelin S and Mackenzie G, lead their team onto the mat to compete in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bulldog Bella H smiles at the crowd during the teams' performance in the regional meet on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Flagler Palm Coast competitive cheerleading team qualified in regionals to compete in the State Championship semifinals. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs: Ava L, Emma L, Tiffany P, Mackenzie G, execute a stunt during the competitive cheerleading regional meet at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs: Mary W, Victoria D, Destiny R, and Bella H, finish one of many stunts as they compete during the regional meet at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs competitive cheerleading team competed in regionals on Saturday Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high schools’ competitive cheerleading teams faced stiff competition at the Region 2, Class 2 regional meet Saturday, Jan. 22 held at Bishop Moore Catholic High School.
96 teams competed against each other to earn a coveted spot at the State Championship to be held at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville Feb. 1-2. The meet began at 10:00 a.m. with each team granted a 20 minute warm-up followed by a two-and-a-half minute routine.
Matanzas High School performed in the small non-tumbling category against nine other teams. The Pirates placed ninth and were edged out of the state semifinals by eighth place Lake Buena Vista High School. Coach Emilly Hays will now focus on getting her team prepared for the sideline season and the upcoming spring football game.
“While we did not make it to the next level this year, I am extremely proud of the girls for pushing through and overcoming many adversities throughout the year,” she said.
FPC placed eighth in the medium non-tumbling category where they performed against 13 other teams. After a season rife with challenges, the Bulldogs are headed to the State Championship semifinals.
First year coach Sara D’Esposito, has worked with her team this season to improve their routine by utilizing the judges’ recommendations given on the competition score sheets. She believes the final changes have been made which should reveal her team’s full potential at the upcoming championship and help them garner the points they have strived to achieve.
“Walking into states, I want these girls to feel confident in what they are doing,” she said. “What I hope for them is that they do not focus so much on the results, but focus on staying in the moment, enjoying the performance and focusing on execution. I always remind them that their best performance sits in the palm of their hands. It’s up to them to either grasp it or let it go.”
D’Esposito enjoys watching her team participate in the sport they are passionate about.
“I’m so proud of these girls for everything they have accomplished this season,” she said. “But most of all, I am so thankful to be their coach.”
