On Saturday, Jan. 20, Xavier’s cheer and pom teams took the floor at Chase Field for the AIA State Spiritline Championships. Friends, family and fans of Xavier packed the stadium and gave an overwhelming amount of support for the teams.

Cheer took the mats first, and despite a drop in the opening stunt, they finished strong for a great performance. Pom, up next, faced adversity due to the pom floor being more like a wrestling mat rather than a dance floor that the team is used to. Nonetheless, pom had an impressive performance.

Pom finished second, beating the 2017 state champions, Highland High School. Cheer defended their state title finishing first. “[Winning state was] a dream come true. I think for this state though it was more about going out and competing one last time at state with this team and this program. Winning the title was just like a cherry on top!” said senior Gabby Leier, who has been on the team since freshman year.

Next, the Gators are headed to the National Championship in Anaheim, California. Stay tuned for results from nationals!