Winter prep preview / Coupeville cheer

The Coupeville High School cheer team is on the verge of qualifying for the state tournament.

In a regional competition where the Wolves were attempting to qualify for the national finals, Coupeville registered a 69.7. It was not a state-qualifying meet, but the score was more than 10 points higher that the state standard.

If the Wolves match the effort in a state-qualifying meet, they will secure a berth in the state finals Feb. 8 at Battle Ground High School.

Coupeville placed third in its division at state last year.

The Wolves are waiting to hear if the regional score will land them a berth in the national tournament, which is later this season at Disney World in Orlando.

Coach BreAnna Boon praised her team for its efforts in the regional meet.

“Usually teams don’t start competing until the end of November or December,” she said. “So to go to a competition the very first Saturday of November was not an easy thing to do. We have had to over come so many obstacles, I honestly didn’t know if we would make it to the competition.

“This is by far one of the strongest teams I have ever coach — mentally and physically. They know how to get their head in the game and get the work done.”

After a long layoff, the Wolves returned to competition last season.

Vying for a national bid was “not something that was even in our dreams when we started the competition team last year,” Boon said. “It’s crazy to think that’s even possible for such a small squad, but if they are gonna get that bid, this would be the team to do it.”

The team includes Mica Shipley, Ashleigh Bataglia, Ja’Tarya Hoskins, Dawson Houston, Gavin St. Onge, Melia Welling, Ella Bueler, Marenna Rebischke-Smith, Coral Caveness, Emily Fiedler, Karyme Castro, Bella Velasco and Edith Mireles.