The state’s 73 cheerleading squads will travel to Bangor for Saturday’s regional competition at the Cross Insurance Center that will determine the 16 teams that will vie for the state title in each of the three classes on the following Saturday (Feb. 8) at the Augusta Civic Center.
The top eight teams in each regional bracket will qualify for the states.
There are just three classes: A, B and C.
The Maine Principals’ Association eliminated Class D last season due to a lack of teams.
The eight remaining D teams were moved up to Class C.
Saturday’s competition begins at 9 a.m. when the Class B North and South teams take the mat.
That is followed by the C North and South schools beginning at 1 p.m. and the A North and South teams conclude the competition starting at 5 p.m.
Lewiston is the defending state champion in Class A and has won two of the last three championships with Oxford Hills of South Paris capturing the 2023 title.
Lewiston has earned eight of the last 17 state championships and Biddeford has six crowns during that time. Bangor has won two and Oxford Hills has the one title.
There are nine A North squads and 10 in the South, according to the MPA bulletin.
Ellsworth has won back-to-back state championships in B after Medomak Valley of Waldoboro had ended Hermon’s reign of five consecutive titles in 2022.
B North has 13 teams and B South has 11.
In Class C, Lisbon won the 2022 state title and teamed with St. Dominic Academy of Auburn to claim the 2023 and 2024 crowns.
Lisbon had won four of the previous eight state championships before merging with St. Dom’s for the last two.
There are 15 teams apiece in each Class C region.
Brewer High School athletic administrator Dave Utterback will be the regional tournament director.
