DHS Spiritline heads to state qualifiers

Douglas High School’s Cheer and Spiritline head to Phoenix this weekend to compete in the San Tan State qualifiers at Copper Canyon High School. The competition starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends shortly after 9 p.m. on Nov. 17.

The girls will be competing in partner stunting, pom, and co-ed cheer.

Coach Andrea Arnejo will be taking 25 boys and girls with her to qualifiers this year. They need to place in the top 10 in any category in order to go to state on Feb. 3.

They will be competing against 13 other schools in partner stunting, against 15 in co-ed cheer and eight in pom.

The squad has had many obstacles this year with girls getting hurt and some not being eligible due to grades.

“They have all really stepped up, Stephanie Palmer went from being a base (in a stunt group) to being a flyer,” Arnejo said. “Without complaining, we’ve had to make many changes to the routines and they just go with it.”

The squad made up of both boys and girls from freshman to seniors have been working extremely hard the last few weeks and are excited to have the opportunity to be one step closer to state.

“I feel that we are ready,” Cheer Captain, Yetzbell Rojas said.

“We have been working really hard and good together,” Co-captain, Sydney Estrella added.

The state qualifiers can be seen online on Saturday, Nov. 17 at www.aia365.com.