By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
BLOOMINGTON — Sandburg’s competitive cheerleaders finished fourth in a state finals competition that looked a lot like a SouthWest Suburban Conference meet.
At least it did for the Large Team division competition, in which the top five finishers hail from the SWSC.
The 2023 state finals were held Feb. 3 and 4 at Grossinger Arena in Bloomington.
The Eagles were barely beaten out of the eighth top-three trophy in program history by a fraction of a point. They scored a 94.37, while Lockport grabbed the third spot with a 94.63.
Sandburg coach Mike Bruce declined to comment after the meet. The Sandburg cheer account tweeted “Kids performed their hearts out today. Couldn’t be more proud of our ‘superheroes.’’’
Members of the Eagles’ roster are Leah Conway, Casey Lovett, Livy McDonald, Aileen Tunney, Olivia Skrocki, Kayleigh Rose, Nikki Hurley, Anna Senese, Olivia Gomez, Zuzanna Malysz, Bella Harper, Angelina Abusara, Sara Senese and Sam Masino.
Lincoln-Way East won its seventh state title with a 98.13 while Lincoln-Way West was runner-up with a 95.43. Lincoln-Way Central, another SWSC team, placed fifth.
Sandburg opened the meet with a fourth-place finish in the preliminaries with a 93.13.
There was also a little Sandburg influence in the Medium Team division. South suburban Conference teams Oak Forest and Lemont finished first and second respectively with the Bengals earning a 97.67-95.03 victory over Lemont.
Lemont is coached by Sandburg grad Bree Grady.
No other area team made it to the second day of competition.
Shepard claimed 13th in the Coed Team division with an 88.17 while Lyons was 22nd with an 83.47 and Reavis was 23rd with an 82.32.
Marist finished 15th in the Large Team division with an 88.33.
Evergreen Park took 21st in the Medium Team division with an 84.43.
Johnsburg won the Small Team division with a 93.83 and Buffalo Grove won the Coed Team championship with a 94.57.