Kids & Family
Mascot Cheer Squad First Exhibition Team in Colts History to Go to State
The Illinois Cheer & Dance State Championship is slated for Dec. 6-8.
A team of cheerleaders that consists of 26 kindergartners and one first-grader is among the Grayslake Colts squads that will compete at the Illinois Cheer & Dance State Championship Dec. 6-8.
The Grayslake Colts Mascot Cheer Squad is the first exhibition squad in Colts history to earn a chance to compete at state, said Coach Jennifer Mertins.
"They competed at Warren in late October and after they saw what a competition was like, they came ready to work at our practices," said Mertins.
Mertins, who is in her second year coaching the team, said the key for the squad has been repetition.
"This age needs a lot of repetition, so that is what the coaches decided would be the best way to help them synchronize their routine," said Mertins, who used to coach high school cheerleading.
The girls practiced their routine and then competed, improving their score by six points and earning a spot at state.
"They are currently working on more difficult stunts to show at the state competition and continue to work on synchronization of the routine," said Mertins. "I feel confident that they will do their best and could improve their score again at the state competition."
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
