Sacred Hearts Academy’s junior varsity cheerleaders made school history after placing first in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH)’s annual cheer competition last week. This was the first time any cheer team from the Academy–on any level–earned this spot.

The competition took place at Punahou School and included about 15 teams from ILH schools across the state. When it was time for the Lancers to compete, they performed their routine to the best of their ability in front of a panel of judges.

“When we competed, we left everything we had on the mat and gave it our all,” junior Mahealani Sims-Tulba said. This is her second year cheering for the Academy.

The JV team’s routine showed off their dance and gymnastics skills. Compared to past routines, Head JV Coach Cadey Rhinelander said, “There was more confidence and determination in this routine. The girls really believed in themselves and kept their eyes on the prize and really wanted to make their family proud.”

Rhinelander graduated from the Academy in 2011 and used to cheer for the St. Louis Cheer Club. There was no Academy cheer team at the time. Her greatest achievement was being a national cheerleading champion after high school.

The JV girls placed first with a score of 420.25 points. Iolani School placed second, with 381.25 points. The Lancers placed second highest in the overall competition, according to Rhinelander.

“I’m proud of how far they’ve come,” she said. “Most importantly, I’m proud to be a part of this amazing school…I’m so happy I could help get this recognition for Sacred Hearts Academy and make Lancer history.”

The Lancer cheer team has been practicing for this competition since August. Their hard work, effort and dedication were all worth it, they said.

“Our goal is to improve our routine by taking the comments from the judges and applying them to our routine,” Sims-Tulba said.

This was the first of three competitions this season. The next cheer competition is on Oct. 15 at Iolani School and again, on Oct. 28, at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama.

The winner of the very last competition becomes the ILH cheerleading champions. Should the Lancers win, they will perform at states, which will be televised.

In the next two competitions, the cheerleaders plan to work even harder and continue on the path to becoming ILH cheerleading champions.