By Sapna Pathak
Staff Writer

Neighborhood News/Bruce Preston Pembroke cheerleaders Andrea Dall (left), Cassie Roll (center) and Brittany Welcome follow their coach’s team rule: Have fun, love your teammates, and keep smiling.

Salem's spirit squad will have to wait another year to dethrone rival Pinkerton Academy of Derry from its spot atop the state-championship cheering mountain after compiling 185 team points – one point shy of the Astros' 186.

The Blue Devils were Class L runners-up behind the Astros for the second straight year in the NHIAA state cheerleading finals at the University of New Hampshire on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Salem head coach Tracy Berube said her squad had to overcome some struggles since taking first place in Class L at the Kiwanis cheerleading competition in mid-January.

The Blue Devils mentor said her team changed its musical selection five days before the state finals because Laconia had the same song. Berube had to prepare her team to perform its routine to new tunes, hardly an easy task.

“We're really confident,” said Berube. “I thought it might be too short of notice to change the music, but it actually helped the girls out and freshened things up a little for them.”

Berube said Pinkerton was one of the best teams in the state and the team to beat for the past two years. Recovering from finishing just one point from the title will require a lot of time for Salem's girls, Berube added.

Concord came in sixth with 166.5 points. Crimson Tide head coach Mary Wyatt said her young team can finally compete as a Class L-caliber club.

Wyatt characterized meets during the season as “trial runs,” where her team could fix mistakes.

The Concord coach also told her team the championship meet was the one shot to prove those mistakes were fixed. Goffstown head coach Doris Gamache lost four girls from her roster since the Kiwanis competition.

Gamache said her team's confidence was a little shaken due to the roster changes.

“They're not feeling as strong as I'd like them to,” said Gamache. “There's only so much encouraging you can do. Then you've gotta leave them alone. My biggest concern is just getting a clean routine; no bumping into each other, don't worry about the score. Just give me a clean routine with no mental mistakes.”

The Grizzlies had a clean routine and placed ninth with 154.5 points, while Manchester West, which didn't compete at Kiwanis, came in 11th with 142.5 points.

According to West senior captain Christina Brandy of Hooksett, the Blue Knights weren't ready to compete a month earlier.

Blue Knights head coach Sherri Reinfurt said she doesn't allow her girls to watch their competitors' routines – she doesn't want them to be overconfident or intimidated.

City rival Trinity of Manchester scored 126.5 points for 15th place.

Manchester Central took home the co-ed championship title under head coach Mia Vetri.

In Class I action, Pelham repeated as champions with 172.5 points. Less than a month after taking first place at Kiwanis, the Pythons were more than 10 points better than second-place Milford.

Pythons head coach Michelle Parisi avoided making any big changes in her team's routine.

She said minor adjustments were made along the way, but the girls were comfortable with the routine that earned them the win at Kiwanis.

“We were ready now,” said Parisi. “We weren't ready at Kiwanis, but I was confident today. Repeating as Kiwanis champs and state champs is the ultimate way to pay off the past month of training.”

Meanwhile, Pembroke Academy came in sixth with 154 points. John Stark of Weare came in 12th with 129.5 points.