The Medway High School Cheer team celebrate with the championship trophy and a title banner after winning Division 3 for the second consecutive year at the annual New England Interscholastic Spirit Championship held at Worcester State University on Saturday, March 22. (Photo Courtesy Medway High School)
MEDWAY — Athletic Director Jeff Parcells and Principal John Murray are proud to celebrate the Medway High School Cheer team for becoming New England Champions for the second year in a row.
The Medway High School Cheer team won the Division 3 title for the second consecutive year at the annual New England Interscholastic Spirit Championship held at Worcester State University on Saturday, March 22. The Medway team outshined 11 competitors from across the region.
After the hard-fought victory, the team was presented a New England champion title banner and a trophy, before being ushered back home with an escort provided by the Medway Police Department and Medway Fire Department.
The title-winning performance caps off a dominant season for the Mustangs that also included winning the Tri-Valley League Championship, winning the South Regional Championship, and notching a second-place finish two weeks ago at the 2025 Winter Cheerleading State Championship.
Adrienne Hunter, in her first season as head coach, credited her 15 Medway cheerleaders for huddling together, fixing mistakes and nailing down their routine in the lead-up to the New England Championship, in light of the bitter disappointment of a runner-up finish in the States.
“After a rough performance, leaving States and not accomplishing our goal, they came together, practicing every single day,” Coach Hunter said. “They made a decision that emotionally they would connect and give it everything they had. This was it, the last routine of the year. We left it all out there. And it was our best routine of the year. We were super happy about that. That was our goal.”
Many of the Medway cheerleaders have grown up together, starting as young children in Medway Colts Football and Cheer.
“They are very close. They are like sisters,” Coach Hunter said. “They connect on the mat in a different way than other teams. They have been together so long. That might be one of the biggest difference-makers with this team.”
The New England Champion Medway Cheer team includes juniors Jillian Bartell (captain), Eve Peristere, Adelle McLaughlin (captain), and Olivia Olynciw; along with sophomores Chloe Giallonardo (captain), Samantha Tovar, Nicole Oster, Grace McLaughlin, Willow Gowen, Laney Brynczka, Julia Holden and Grace Farrell; and freshmen Gianna Scotland, Madison Brynczka and Cassidy Cook. There were no seniors on the team this year.
In addition to Coach Hunter, the team was led by Assistant Coach Stephanie Rasmussen and Assistant Coache Michael Dovalle.
The team’s routines were crafted by Choreographer Eric Bichao.
The music for the team’s championship routine, which lasts 2 minutes and 30 seconds, includes a voiceover that became a team motto for the team this season: “Humble and hungry.”
“This is not a cocky group of kids,” Coach Hunter said. “Sometimes they don’t realize how talented they are. They’re confident, but very humble about it.”
High school cheerleading competitions, decided by a panel of judges, are scored based on five categories: stunting, tumbling, pyramids, motions and dance.
“This was one of the most difficult routines I’ve ever coached,” Coach Hunter said.
For Coach Hunter, a former Medway High School cheerleader from the Class of 1997, the championship victory meant coming full circle. Coach Hunter started her cheerleading coaching career with a season at Medway High School 20 years ago, coaching at several other schools in the meantime.
The Medway High School Cheer team is now in the off season until tryouts in August.
“I’ll be excited for our returning seniors, who have been with this program all along,” Coach Hunter said. “I see a lot of big things happening next year.”
In addition to their special welcome back to town after the police-escorted ride back from Worcester, the Medway cheerleaders have also received congratulations from their teachers, Athletic Director Parcells, Principal Murray and Superintendent Pires.
“We’re thrilled to congratulate our exceptional student-athletes on the Medway High School Cheer team,” Athletic Director Parcells said. “This second straight New England Championship title serves as a testament to the consistency, hard work, and dedication our cheerleaders and their coaching staff.”
“I would like to congratulate the Medway High School cheerleading team on an extraordinary season, topped off by this New England Championship title,” Principal Murray said. “What a fitting way to end the season. This feat wouldn’t have been possible without their hard work, talent and teamwork. I’d also like to congratulate all their parents, teachers and coaches. Go Mustangs!”
“I am so incredibly proud of our cheerleading team. They have made our entire school district and community proud,” Superintendent Pires said. “I’d also like to offer a special congratulations to the parents, teachers and coaches who helped make this all possible.”
###
Members of the Medway High School cheer team celebrate with the New England Championship trophy. (Photo Courtesy Medway Public Schools)
The Medway High School Cheer team performs at Worcester State University during the New England Interscholastic Spirit Championship. (Photo Courtesy Medway Public Schools)
Medway High School cheerleaders celebrated a title winning performance at the New England Interscholastic Spirit Championship. (Photo Courtesy Medway Public Schools)
Discover more from John Guilfoil Public Relations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.