By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Latin School cheer squad is a perfect three for three in state championship competition.
After becoming full Kansas State High School Activities Association members in the fall of 2020, the Lions’ cheer squad has participated in three state competitions and has yet to take home anything but gold.
The Cair Paravel Latin cheer squad has gone three for three in KSHSAA competition, recently winning its third straight title. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
Cair Paravel Latin held a hall parade on Monday at the school to honor its cheer squad, which recently won its third straight state title in as many state appearances. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
For a school finding success quickly in KSHSAA competition, it is the cheer squad which leads the way.
Head cheerleading coach Courtney Bond took over leadership of the team in the fall of 2020. She presented the challenge of competition to the team that year, and they began preparing for the next year’s championship, held each fall.
“I had competed in cheerleading competitions in high school (in Ohio), so it was something that I was familiar with,” Bond said. “When I presented the idea to the girls, they were all about it. So, we went and competed in (Class) 1A and were pleasantly surprised to bring home the championship.”
Cair Paravel junior Piper Ellis (left), senior Isabel Gateley (center) and junior Katelyn Bond (right) have been part of all three of the Lions' KSHSAA state cheer championships. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
“We went into it with no expectations, just trying to work our hardest and do the best we could,” said Isabel Gateley, the lone senior to have been part of all three championships. “None of us had ever been in a cheer competition before. Most of us had never even performed in front of that many people before. We went into it a little shocked, but we did our best and it really showed.
“That set the stage for the next couple of years. As each year went on, the expectations got a little higher. But we went with it and met those expectations.”
Cair Paravel Latin's cheer squad celebrates after winning its third straight state championship on Nov. 18 in Topeka. [Submitted photo]
The Lions were bumped up to 2A for the 2022 competition, but they prevailed again. They returned to the state championships, held at the Stormont Vail Events Center on Nov. 18 of this year, to make it three in a row.
Cair Paravel head cheer coach Courtney Bond talks to her team before the start of Monday's hall parade at CPLS. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/TSN]
“After the first one, then the pressure was on,'' Bond said. "After we moved up to 2A we knew the pressure would be tougher and the competition much stiffer. We are one of the smallest 2A schools so we’re going up against schools that have 60, 80 more kids than we do.
“I think all three were very special in different ways. I told the girls, 'It’s hard to get to the top, but it’s much harder to stay there.’ So being able to have the three-peat was maybe even more special than in the previous years.”
Bond said cheer has grown in popularity at the school following the first championship.
“Winning that championship sparked something in these girls at this school,” Bond said. “We have a Little Lions Cheer Camp that we do every summer and that grows every year. We’re a tiny school – only about 400 in K-12 – and we get about 70 little girls that come to our camp.
“We had three seniors come out this year who had never cheered before, but they wanted to be a part of this. These girls see that they have an opportunity to be trained and become state champions themselves. So, our squad has doubled just since two years ago.”
Bond said that making history as the school’s first state champion was special for the squad. She said the cheerleaders are aware they are showing the rest of the school it can be competitive regardless the sport or activity.
“We talked about that hard work is going to pay off and we are a very determined squad,'' she said. "That sets an example for the rest of the school. It doesn’t matter that we’re new (to KSHSAA). You can go in blazing from the beginning.”
Since cheer claimed the first title in fall of 2021, CPLS has seen its scholars bowl team record back-to-back second-place finishes in 1A Division II in 2021 and 2022, its girls soccer team reach the final four in 4-1A in 2022, and its football team reach the semifinals in 8-Man Div. I this season.
“I think that we definitely set the bar pretty high for cheer and for the other sports,” said junior Piper Ellis, who said the cheer squad serves as ambassadors for the school.
“We do a lot of community service and fund raisers to show the face of ‘CP.’ Coach always says to be Christlike in our actions. That helps us to (represent) the school well in all that we do.”
“I’m so proud of their accomplishments, but I’m even more proud of the character of these girls,” Bond said. “They go out and are good examples for our school and for Christ.”
