'They stayed hungry': Cros-Lex competitive cheer repeats as Division 3 state champions
CROSWELL — A year after the Croswell-Lexington competitive cheer team extinguished two dynasties, it appears to have started a new one.
The Pioneers won the MHSAA Division 3 state championship on March 2. It was their second-consecutive title after clinching the program's first-ever crown in 2023.
"It was definitely incredible to see," Cros-Lex coach Katie Tomlinson said of her team repeating as champions. "This whole season, in general, has just been so amazing for all these athletes and our program. To see it all come together at the end was a blessing for all of us."
With a total score of 782.52 points, Cros-Lex placed first out of eight teams in the finals.
It was also the Pioneers' fifth-straight appearance at states. However, this trip wasn't like the previous four.
"It definitely was different," Tomlinson said. "The first year we went was in 2020. That was just the goal that year. We were just so happy to be there. The first couple years (at the state finals) were about finding ourselves there and continuing to build up (our confidence).
"After winning last year, the whole mindset for our program changed. So this year, the mindset going into the state finals was so different. All the girls were confident. They were humble, but they really believed in themselves and in their team and knew what they had to do."
The foundation for this championship was laid months before the season began last November.
"We started getting to work right in the spring and summer, as soon as we were able to," Tomlinson said. "So, we just shared our goals daily and reminded ourselves of that feeling of last year — and wanting to have that feeling again. We used that as motivation."
Added Tomlinson, "(The girls) stayed hungry. We had a good group of seniors coming back that were able to lead (our title defense)."
This year's seniors were Alexis Bales, Grace Hodges, Cora Katulski, Tessa Merrell, Shelby Oliver, Makayla Rice and Lilly Woodruff.
It was a relatively small class, accounting for just seven of the 20 athletes on the roster. But that means Cros-Lex will return 13 girls with considerable experience for 2025.
"There's definitely a lot to look forward to," Tomlinson said. "It's exciting to continue with this program, keep making it stronger and, hopefully, add some more championships along the way."
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: 'They stayed hungry': Cros-Lex cheer repeats as state champions
