Erie High Cheer Team Determined to Rebuild After Tough Season
By Zoey Wamsley
After dominating the Colorado high school cheerleading scene for years, the Erie High School cheer team faced a tough reality check this past season. Following a streak of six straight state titles in the 4A division and a strong national presence, the team moved up to the 5A classification and ran into challenges they hadn’t encountered in years.
But don’t count the Tigers out just yet. While 2024 didn’t end with the trophies they hoped for, the team is already laying the groundwork for a fierce comeback next season. One built on grit, growth, and an unshakable team bond.
For much of the last decade, Erie High’s cheerleaders were synonymous with excellence. Under the steady leadership of head coach Nora Roth and her staff, the Tigers earned a reputation for high-energy routines, creative choreography, and unbreakable unity.
Their performances at state competitions became almost legendary, with routines so clean and precise that Erie began to seem untouchable in 4A. But when the school’s growing enrollment bumped them into the 5A division, a league populated by the biggest and most competitive programs in the state, the team knew the 2024 season would be a whole new ball game.
The Tigers faced opponents with larger rosters, longer histories in 5A, and resources to match. Though they had trained harder than ever and started the year with a promising preseason ranking, they fell short of the podium at state for the first time in recent memory.
“When things got tough last season we all came together as a team and worked together.” Sophomore Madison McMaster Stated.
Beyond state competition, Erie also traveled to Texas to compete in a national championship event for NCA. The trip was the culmination of months of preparation, extra practices, fundraising events, team meetings, and choreography sessions.
For many athletes on the team, it was their first chance to compete on such a prestigious stage. And while the experience was unforgettable, the results weren’t what they had dreamed of. A few uncharacteristic errors and the intensity of the competition kept the Tigers from advancing to the final rounds.
“Yes we struggled sometimes but we applied corrections when they were given to us by our coach which helped us a lot.” Sophomore Sydney Recio added.
“Things got hard sometimes and that’s a part of being on a team but when they did we helped each other through it and supported everyone.” Sophomore Lola Kraja says.
One silver lining in the rocky season was the way the team came together off the mat. Rather than letting disappointment pull them apart, the Tigers used it to strengthen their bond.
From long talks after practice to team dinners, the athletes leaned on one another during the toughest moments of the season.
“We never worked against each other and I think that really helped us especially after moving to the 5A division.
With several key seniors graduating this spring, the team will need those underclassmen to step into leadership roles almost immediately.
As the school year winds down, the Tigers aren’t taking much time to rest. Off-season training has already begun, and next year’s seniors are beginning to set goals for the 2025–26 season.
There’s a renewed focus on conditioning and endurance areas where Coach Roth believes the team can improve to keep up with the higher-paced demands of 5A choreography. New stunt sequences and tumbling drills are being introduced, and tryouts for the new squad were more competitive than ever.
“We placed 2nd at nationals which is pretty good but this next year we want to come back better than ever.” Recio explains.
“I know our team has potential because I’ve seen it before and I’m ready for that to come back out in this next season.” McMaster says.
While fans often judge success in trophies and titles, the athletes and coaches at Erie have a broader definition. To them, the cheer team is a family, a sisterhood, and a place where students learn life lessons that go far beyond the mat.
Many of the seniors graduating this spring are leaving with more than state rings, they’re taking with them memories of long bus rides, inside jokes, hard-earned trust, and the deep pride of wearing Erie orange and black.
“I think with the support of our seniors and coaches and teammates around us our team will thrive this season at competitions.” McMaster states.
With state and nationals now behind them, the Tigers are turning their eyes forward, focusing on the challenges ahead of them this upcoming season.
“I think something that was gonna make or break us last season was if we gave up when things got hard and we didn’t!” Kraja said.
It’s the kind of determination that turns a setback into a comeback and a tough year into the first chapter of a new dynasty.
The 2025–26 season holds big promise for Erie. With a strong core of returning athletes, an infusion of new talent, and a coaching staff more motivated than ever, the team believes the best is yet to come.
Community support remains high, with parents, alumni, and local businesses rallying behind the team in hopes of another title run.
And if history is any indication, betting against Erie might not be wise.
