By Elizabeth Contreras
Claremore cheer has emerged as one of the most spirited and skilled teams in the region, stacking up accolades and shattering expectations this season.
“This has been a great season! We have put in a lot of work and time growing together as a strong team,” coach Sara Eagleton shared.
Their dedication brought big results, earning Most Spirited Team honors at Extreme Cheer Camp and collected a long list of achievements at NCA, including the St. Jude Spirit Stick, 16 All-American nominees, 12 All-Americans, 3 Pin It Forward Award winners, a Top Gun Stunt Group, and a Top Gun Tumbler. Individually, Jordanne Tedesco was named an All-Region Cheerleader for Region 3, while the team as a whole became 5A Regional Runner-Up and state qualifiers.
Building on their impressive success, the team carried that momentum into the state competition, delivering their strongest routine in six years and achieving notable recognition.
“After our team finished on the state mat, we all had smiles and happy tears. Our athletes gave it their all; everything went up and stayed up,” Eagleton said.
The emotional high from their state performance marked a turning point for the team, whose growth continues to impress Eagleton.
“Every week it seems like we have acquired a new skill,” Eagleton explained. “It could be a group with a stunt sequence or individual with a new tumbling skill.”
Strong senior leadership and a positive team culture have propelled the team forward.
“The culture of your program greatly influences the motivation and success of a team,” Eagleton emphasized. “We’ve worked intentionally and consistently to set high expectations, provide support, hold each other accountable, and celebrate victories.”
Despite challenges such as demanding schedules and unexpected injuries, the team’s resilience is evident.
“We’ve found that if we plan ahead and stay organized, we can keep up with our practices, games, workouts, and competitions. When injuries happen, we’ve had athletes step up to fill the team’s need,” Eagleton explained.
As the spring season approaches, the team is preparing for tryouts and for STUNT, a competitive team sport that removes the crowd-leading element of cheerleading and focuses purely on skill.
“We want a top 5 team for NCA Nationals at the end of January, but we would also like a top 4 placement at STUNT state in April,” Eagleton shared.
Eagleton plans to continue building on the team’s existing strengths, while celebrating their accomplishments and hard work.
“I believe that they know they have coaches cheering them on that will provide the support, encouragement, and motivation to continue to improve.”
