The Norwin Knights’ competitive cheerleading team excelled at their recent competitions. Breaking school records, this year’s Lady Knights have certainly marked their place in Norwin Cheer history.
On December 20, Norwin High School’s competitive cheer team traveled to Hempfield Area High School for the 2025-2026 WPIAL Competitive Spirit Championships. Competing in Class 3A against 21 other schools, the team performed exceptionally, placing third and qualifying for state competition. The Knights were one of only 3 teams at the event to score 90+ points, scoring exactly 90.
The team has been gradually improving for the past three seasons. At the WPIAL Championships in 2023-2024, they placed 10th and scored just 79.2 points. In the 2024-2025 season, they climbed to 8th and scored 84.1, a score that the Knights easily dwarfed with their performance this season.
”We got a whole new coaching staff, and they really knew how to make us work,” said senior captain Carsyn Stanley. “We practice a lot. We have to be consistent at practice— we aren’t leaving until we get our routines right.”
A season ago, the Lady Knights brought in head coach Sarah Brooks and assistants Shanda Swisher and Courtney Shovel, who have had profound effects on the culture of the team.
Last season, the Knights tied for fourth with local rival Hempfield at the PIAA State Competitive Spirit Championships in Hershey, PA. Their top-6 placement earned them a bid to the UCA Nationals in Orlando, Florida.
”Last year we advanced to the next round in nationals, which we’ve never done,” said Stanley. “Whenever we advanced, you’re literally with the best teams. Those Southern teams are so good, so to know that we were right there with them proves that our coaches know what they’re doing.”
On Friday and Saturday, January 9 and 10, the team competed in the PIAA State Championship in Johnstown, PA. The event was hosted at the 1st Summit Arena, and hosted a total of 19 teams in Norwin’s 3A Large division.
“Not consistency, but almost consistency,” said senior Logan Kellar when asked what the team needed to improve prior to the state competition. “We are consistent with things, but we need to be more consistent with our corrections. We fix it the first couple times, but then we get sloppy again, so we need to stay aware of those.”
The preliminary round was held on Friday, where the top 5 placing teams automatically got a bid to the finals on Saturday. Norwin struggled in the Prelims, placing 7th and putting them in a 6-team play-in for the 6th seed in finals.
“We were in 7th place and climbed our way up to second; it was a great comeback,” said senior Lila Bachofsky.
The cheerleaders were not dissuaded by their early struggles and kept their heads high. After placing first in the semi-final play-in, the team earned the 6th spot in the finals. In the state finals, Norwin placed second as the runner-up to another WPIAL school, Baldwin High School. WPIAL schools captured the Top 4 spots at the state championship.
At the PIAA State Championship, Norwin has never placed as high as second.
“The team put on their best performance in history,” said junior Ashley Zona. “The feeling after hitting the routine with zero deductions felt amazing. To make history and receive a medal at States was such a special and exciting experience.”
On February 7th and 8th, the team competed in the UCA Competitve Cheer Nationals in Orlando, Florida. This competition was hosted at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex. Norwin competed against 22 schools across the country, and placed fifth, their highest placement ever at this competition.
“This was the first year Norwin advanced to finals [at nationals], which is a huge accomplishment for us,” said Kellar. “While states was super fun and exciting, nationals was by far my favorite because you get to stay with some of your best friends during the weekend. Getting to take the mat multiple tinges that weekend was a reward of its own, obviously we wanted to place high, but competing more than once in the weekend was already a big high for us.”
The team’s younger cheerleaders hope to continue the success of this season for the future.
”We hope to hold open gyms before tryouts in March to get a jump start on stunts and tumbling, focus on skill-specific training like core strength and flexibility,” said junior Camrynn Archer. “[We plan to] review past performances to set clear goals for next season. Once we get the minor things ready, we will be back and better than the year before!”
