Under the bright lights of the Blaisdell Arena, the Sacred Hearts Academy cheer team took the mat at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championships on Nov. 12, earning fourth place. After the competition, juniors and sophomores reflected on their experience, shared goals for the upcoming season and offered advice for preparing for future competitions.

Team members said they were proud of their performance and how the group came together throughout the season.

“Personally, I feel like our team did really well at states. We really pushed ourselves this year because we started off with pretty much a brand-new team,” junior Leah Maroney said.

Sophomore Kenna Souza said the experience also provided lessons for the team moving forward.

“I’m really happy with where we placed, especially because it wasn’t a perfect routine,” Souza said. “I think a lot of lessons were learned, and this will be good for future competitions.”

Athletes also emphasized the importance of staying mentally focused and relying on teammates during competition.

“Don’t stress yourself out about skills that you don’t have perfected because you’re going to drain yourself mentally and physically,” junior Layla Remmers said. “Don’t just rely on yourself — rely on your teammates around you.”

Souza also reflected on the team’s dedication throughout the season.

“No matter the outcome of this season or next season, I’m proud of my team for all the hard work we put in,” Souza said. “We spend endless days and hours practicing so we can leave the floor happy with ourselves and each other.”