After falling short last season, Hempfield Area’s Competitive Cheerleading team is back on top. In December, the team competed at the WPIAL Championship where they reclaimed their title, marking the fifth WPIAL win in program history.
Competitive cheer is not a short season. Tryouts begin in March and the season runs all the way to February when Nationals are held. This long season demands commitment nearly year-round. From tiring summer practices to intense training during the competition season, the team puts in countless hours to perfect every aspect of their routine. While many sports have an off-season, competitive cheer requires constant effort and dedication.
The hours of hard work paid off at WPIALs, where the team delivered a strong performance. Their “hit zero”, no-deduction routine named them the 2026 Class 3A Large Champions and Overall 3A WPIAL Champions. With a score of 92, Hempfield Area beat the runner up in the large division 2 whole points and the overall runner up team by 1.7 points. The 3A Large division included Norwin, Baldwin, North Alleghany and Seneca Valley, who all received a bid to compete at the PIAA competition.
Head coach Suzannah Mayers says, “There’s no greater feeling, we had some ups and downs throughout the season, and we clicked at the right time this week. Momentum was building from the beginning of the week, and they were their best when they had to be.” This team has one of the most difficult routines in program history which paid off at WPIALs.
A few weeks later, the team advanced to PIAA States, where the competition was even more intense. After the preliminary round, the team headed straight through to finals in first place. With the pressure of trying to hold the first place spot, the routine had 2 errors that wouldn’t allow them to keep their spot. With two points in deductions, Hempfield Area had a third-place finish. While the outcome was disappointing, it served as a learning experience and motivation moving forward.
Now, the team is focused on what’s next, Nationals. The girls will travel to Florida to compete on a bigger stage against the best teams in the nation. With the dedication the team has shown all season and the high difficulty packed routine, they are determined to finish strong and perform a routine showing what they’re capable of.
So far, this season has proved that perseverance, teamwork, and resilience truly matter – and the WPIAL championship is a well deserved title showcasing just that.
