Franklin Public Schools Congratulates Cheerleading, Basketball Teams for Championship Victories

The Franklin High School cheerleading and basketball teams both earned the title of Division 1 Champions for the winter 2025 season. This was the fifth Division 1 championship in a row for the cheerleading team. The basketball team also went undefeated in its 16 games of league play this winter season. (Photos Courtesy Franklin Public Schools, Hunter Smith)

FRANKLIN — Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Athletic Director Karrah Ellis are proud to celebrate the state championships won by the Franklin High School cheerleading and boys basketball teams.

Both teams won their respective Division 1 state championships for the winter 2025 season.

For the Franklin High School cheerleading team, it was the fifth state championship in a row and the second state championship won by the team during this school year, after the cheerleaders also won the state championship for the fall season.

“Our routine had the most difficult stunt and pyramid in the state,” Franklin Cheerleading Coach Doni Gill. “We strive for difficulty in our routines.”

In addition to the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association (MSAA) Division 1 Championship, the Franklin High cheerleading team also earned the title of Hockomock League Champions this season and won its Regional Championship.

The Franklin cheerleaders then traveled to Orlando, Florida, for the AmeriCheer International Championship, winning first place in their category and scored the highest score of the competition, earning them the title of 2025 Grand Champions.

The cheerleading team’s graduating seniors finished their high school careers having won seven out of the eight state championships they competed in.

“This is an extremely talented group of girls,” said Coach Gill. “Our division is extremely competitive.”

The Franklin High School Cheerleading roster includes seniors Keira Owens (captain), Ceci Pineda (captain), Lea Exposito (captain), Emma Rondeau (captain), Kat Rosenberg, and Taylor Briggs; juniors Cassidy Stanley, Aeriel Orrell, Emily Bartlett, Lilah Wainwright; and sophomores Ashley Rickey and Aria Nicholson.

In addition to Gill, who has led the team since 2017, the Franklin cheerleaders received direction from choreographer Eric Bichao.

The basketball team went 27-1 overall this season. The team then went 5-0 in the state tournament, beating Shrewsbury, North Andover, Bridgewater Raynham, and Central Catholic and won the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division 1 championship final, defeating Newton North 55-52.

For Franklin High Basketball, this marked a back-to-back state finals appearance. This was only the second time that happened in team history, following the team’s success in 2017 and 2018.

For the second year in a row, the Franklin High boys basketball team went undefeated in its 16 games in league play, resulting in the team being ranked No. 1 overall heading into the state tournament. The Franklin High boys basketball team was the first team in the league to accomplish this feat in 50 years.

Several of the Franklin basketball players earned all-star honors and achieved other distinctions:

• Caden Sullivan was named Hockomock League MVP, Boston Herald All Scholastic, and Boston Globe All Scholastic. He also became a 1,000-point scorer this season.
• Jake Olmstead was named Hockomock League All Star and Boston Herald All Scholastic.
• Justice Samuels was named Hockomock League All Star.
• Wyatt Herndon earned an Hockomock League All Star Honorable Mention.

The Franklin basketball team was led by Head Coach CJ Neely, and the coaching staff also included Mike Doherty, Ryan Perron, Chuck Allen, Tim Rodgers, Connor Moroney, Matt Coooper, and Rob Mosher.

“This team defined what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” Coach Neely said. “All season we played as connected as any team I have ever coached. So many players stepped up and had big games on different nights, and everyone really embraced their role in helping the team win and didn’t worry about individual stuff. This was a true team that played for each other and for their community.”

While the team only lost one game this season, the road to the championship was not easy.

“Every game we were challenged to be our very best,” Coach Neely said. “We have been to the state finals four times in school history, all in the last 11 years, and the previous three times we lost in the finals. It was such an amazing and gratifying feeling to be able to reach the top of the mountain and to do it as a team. Every opponent we faced was a high-level team with big-time scorers and great coaches.”

One of the team’s biggest strengths was its defense, leading the league in average defensive points per game at 47.9.

“We were able to use our special brand of defense to carry us to the championship,” Coach Neely said. “The toughness, fearlessness, and togetherness that this team showed were second to none, and to be able to win the school’s first state championship is an achievement that will last forever. I am so proud of our players and coaches.”

The championship Franklin boys basketball team roster includes seniors Caden Sullivan (captain), Seth O’Donnell (captain), Joseph Conlan, Wyatt Herndon, Zach Allen, Flynn Baker, Andrew Geer, Jake Olmstead and Colin O’Leary; juniors Jack Sullivan, Justice Samuels, James Crowley; sophomore Nas Johnson; and freshman: Danny Santos.

“I would like to congratulate our outstanding cheerleading and boys basketball teams for their championship seasons,” Superintendent Giguere said. “The students performed at an exceptionally high level with the support of their tremendous coaching staffs, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they represented the Franklin Public Schools.”

Players from the Franklin High School boys basketball team rushed onto the court to celebrate winning the MIAA Division 1 championship final, defeating Newton North 55-52. (Photo Courtesy Hunter Smith)

The Franklin High School cheerleading team traveled to Orlando, Florida, in March for the AmeriCheer International Championship, winning first place in their category and scoring the highest score of the competition, earning them the title of 2025 Grand Champions. (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Franklin High School’s cheerleading team won the MSAA Division 1 Championship, marking the team’s fifth state championship in a row. (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Head Coach CJ Neely led the championship-winning Franklin High School boys basketball team. (Photo Courtesy Hunter Smith)

Members of the Franklin High School boys basketball team celebrated with fans in the stands after winning the MIAA Division 1 championship final, defeating Newton North 55-52. (Photo Courtesy Hunter Smith).  (Photo Courtesy Hunter Smith)

In addition to Head Coach CJ Neely, the Franklin High School basketball coaching staff included Mike Doherty, Ryan Perron, Chuck Allen, Tim Rodgers, Connor Moroney, Matt Coooper, and Rob Mosher. (Photo Courtesy Hunter Smith)