<\/a>The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears cheer team at the 2024 ASAA\/First National Bank Alaska Cheer State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Klas Stolpe, For the Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
“This means so much for us,” JDHS senior Ryan Shattuck said. “The seniors were really hoping for a four-peat this year. We’ve been working really hard. We went to nationals, regions and just showed how much we love to cheer as a team, and we are just so happy we could pull out our last win. I don’t think people understand how much work we put in. I mean, at home, so many people were asking us where we’re going to state or not because our basketball teams didn’t make it, sadly, and we just picked our heads up and told them ‘yes we are.’”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
For Thunder Mountain it was their highest placing at state and the last time a Falcons team will fly, stunt and tumble this far north. The Ketchikan Kings placed third, making the state event a Southeast show-out.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“It means everything,” TMHS coach Stephany Day said before breaking into sobs.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
After a long pause she said, “We’re going out with a bang…”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a>The Thunder Mountain High School cheer team at the 2024 ASAA\/First National Bank Alaska Cheer State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Klas Stolpe, For the Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Trying to compose herself, Day spoke of the hard work and discipline her team showed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“Countless hours in the gym,” she said. “Many times not hitting stunts you know, falling to the ground…the mental energy that they put in, the physical energy that they put into this…it takes everything. This really means everything to us because our school is closing…and this is the end for them, for the Falcons. We’re sad to see it go, but we’re going to be OK. We’re going to move on. The support here is, well, the top three cheer teams in the state are in Southeast Alaska, that is so cool. And to be a part of that is so cool.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Shattuck and JDHS classmate Mila Griffin were selected to the All-State Tournament Cheer team.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I honestly wasn’t really expecting it, but I work really hard and my team really supports me in practice and out of practice,” Griffin said. “So I couldn’t have done it without my team and I’m really thankful to have them here with me. And I’m glad I could support them back throughout the whole four years. I think this year was really special to me because we all get along really well.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t