Salem girls take top spot at Class L championship
By Sapna Pathak
Salem went into the Class L Fall State Spirit Competition without worrying about the final outcome. The team walked away as the newly crowned Class L champions.
Head coach Colleen O’Shea and assistant coach Tracy Berube mentored a squad fueled by strong work ethic and a desire to compete at its highest level.
The result was a 15-point win over three-time defending Class L champion Pinkerton Academy, plus the joy of hoisting the title plaque in front of a packed house at the University of New Hampshire at Durham’s Whittemore Center.
“They had fun out there,” said Berube after the win on Sunday, Nov. 5. “I was watching from the sidelines and felt they really did. That’s why I was jumping all over the place during their routine. They really enjoyed themselves out there, and it showed.”
The Blue Devils tallied 190 points, while Pinkerton followed with 175. Led by seniors Giana Armano, Paige Dewhirst, Chelsea Haegle, Karissa Halloran, Stephanie Smith and Arayelle Wheaton, Salem performed a clean routine with zero deductions for safety violations.
Losing graduated seniors and adding four new freshmen were tough challenges for the Blue Devils. Indeed, rookies Stefanie Bromander, Devin Lawlor, Emily Mahoney and Emily Speight needed time to develop.
“It’s hard at first,” said Berube. “We’re trying to get a feel for them, and they’re trying to do the same. Once that’s been established, it’s all about cheering and making sure everyone’s on the same page.”
Pelham takes 15th
While Salem celebrated its new spot atop the Class L spirit mountain, Pelham, last year’s Class IMS champion, placed 15th out of 21 IMS clubs.
The meet marked the first competition for the Pythons this season, and assistant coach Michelle Parisi said that was the problem.
“At the first competition nobody’s really ready,” said Parisi. “We’re as ready as we could be, but since it’s the only competition we’ve been in this season, it’s tough.”
Head coach Amanda Augenstein added entering the tournament as the defending champions put some pressure on the girls. The Pythons came up with 126.5 points, losing 35.0 points in safety deductions.
Parisi attributed Pelham’s past success to high coaching expectations from the coaching staff. Her four newcomers are still learning about the tradition of success at PHS.
“Yes, we do have expectations coming in as last year’s winner, but we have high expectations for our own team as well,” said Parisi. “The team doesn’t settle for anything less. We really push the girls to go to their highest level, and that’s why we’ve done well before.