Months of early morning practices, hard work and attention to detail paid off for the Boone High School competition cheer squad, which earned a top-three finish at the Iowa State Cheer Competition on Saturday, November 7, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
The Toreadors’ varsity competition team, made up of 11 athletes, began preparing for the season in July.
Under the direction of coach Emily Graeve, the team learned its routine during the summer and spent months refining every element before taking the state stage.
“We learned the routine in July and practiced two to three times a week until the last couple of weeks, when we practiced almost daily,” Graeve said. “Most practices were at 6 a.m. because of the kids’ busy schedules.”
The team first tested itself against competition at the Triton Challenge Cheer Competition in Fort Dodge on Sunday, November 1, where Boone placed third.
That experience helped prepare Boone for its performance a week later.
At the state competition, the Toreadors delivered what Graeve described as a solid, confident and entertaining routine.
While Boone may not have possessed the same degree of stunt difficulty as some of the top teams in its division, the coaching staff emphasized precision and execution.
“We knew we lacked some of the stunt difficulty that other top teams had, but the execution score is just as important,” Graeve said. “So we focused on perfecting every last detail we could.”
Boone earned the highest Overall Impression score in its entire division.
Given the depth of talent throughout the division and the subjective nature of cheer judging, the Toreadors were thrilled to finish among the top three teams in the state.
“That has been one of our goals since the beginning of the season,” Graeve said.
Beyond the trophies and scores, Graeve said the season will be remembered for the chemistry and attitude of the athletes.
“We had so much fun with a great group of kids,” she said. “They always kept things lighthearted while also remaining focused and encouraging each other to do their best.”
The team consisted of seniors Maleah Shivers, Sydney Dodd, Piper Klein and Cami Lonergan; junior Phoebie Dighton; sophomores Paetyn Hudson, Sadie Arispe, Abby Oostenink and Izzy Moyer; and freshmen Aubrey Kramer and Audrey Fontanini.
Graeve also credited her daughter, Mia Graeve, for assisting with coaching throughout the season.
As the program looks ahead, the accomplishment is made even more meaningful by the contributions of its senior class.
“We will greatly miss this group of seniors,” Emily Graeve said.
Jill Lutz reporting
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