The Mariner cheerleaders work on a stunt at a recent practice with flyer Emma Plummer. By Amber Jones
Deer Isle—The Deer Isle-Stonington cheerleaders are back supporting the home teams after new coach Amber Jones signed on as coach, and will be on the competition circuit, too.
Despite a late start to the season, Jones and her 10-member team are working on their routine to compete at the regional competition at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on January 27.
“We didn’t have a full squad until December, so we got a late start, which is hard” Jones said.
Competing, and winning, is not new for Jones, who was a member of the 2013 DISHS squad that brought home the Class D state title under Coach Kim Larson, who led the program for 30 years. She still advises Jones, as does Kim Yurchick who led the program in 2015-16.
But, after local interest in cheering waned last year, Jones’s goal is as much to build up the program as build a competitive team.
“My goal going in was to try and get it back off the ground,” she said. “I came in with no expectations.”
With a team that is half freshmen, “most of them I’m starting from scratch,” she continued, although some have cheering, if not competition, experience. But all are working hard, she said.
“This year I’ve really got a group of dedicated kids, I’m really lucky.”
Jones, who also coaches the middle school squad and runs tumbling and cheering classes at the Island Community Center, said she hopes the program will get stronger as younger kids rise through the grades.
“If I have kids learning back handsprings at 6, then the interest will stay. Hopefully we can put Deer Isle back on the map,” Jones said.
Front row, from left, Eden Dunham, Emma Plummer, Rachel Shepard, Aja Quintal; back row, Ariel Larrabee, Drew Wendell, Delaney Billings, Mason Plummer, Tori Eaton. Not pictured is Grace Morey. By Amber Jones