Milton High Cheerleaders, Dancers Prepare for Bay State Competition

There is one big dance and cheerleading competition each year for schools in the Bay State Conference, and over the past few years, excluding a scheduling conflict last year, ’s Copeland Field House has been its home.

The dance and cheerleading teams from Milton High will be going head-to-head with seven or eight other schools in a judged competition on Thursday night, beginning at 7 p.m.

The Bay State Conference Dance and Cheerleading Competition usually draws a large crowd to the Copeland Field House.

 “Everything is filled and it’s great to see everyone here,” said senior dance captain Lauren Sweeney who co-captains the eight-person competition team with Jenna McCarthy.

Being at home has its advantages for both the dance team and the cheerleading squad, which is led by seniors Kelsey Lord, Caroline Mullen and Veronica Surrette-Fahey.

Aside from the comfort of the home court, Surrette-Fahey points out that the vibe is much like a Wildcats pep rally.

Both sets of captains agree that fan support offers a huge boost during competition, so Milton students, parents and residents are all encouraged to check out the event on Thursday.

“Everyone should come,” said Surrette-Fahey when asked to give a pitch. “I always feel better knowing people are here supporting us.”

The competition is set up in two parts with the cheerleaders from every school going first, followed by the dancers. Four judges will score each performance and announce a winner and two runners up.

Competitions like this are rare, as many schools don’t have competitive programs. So, Thursday is the biggest event of the year for dancers and cheerleaders at Milton High.

“This is what we work for all season,” said Mullen.

For the first time, the Milton dancers will participate in an invitational this year. They will travel to Emmanuel College on Sunday for a competition that will feature a wide range of ages and styles.

As for the cheerleaders, they usually hit at least one invitational competition every year, but the harsh winter weather has cut that experience short.

The competition cheerleading team, which consists of about 17 people, will look to overcome inexperience and a music mix-up when they hit the floor tomorrow.

Lord said the squad would put on a show for fans. The competition performances are much different from their sideline routines. They will perform to a mix of pop songs including Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. The performance will also provide the audience plenty of opportunities to chime in.

The dance team comes in considerably smaller than the competition, which typically has more than 20 dancers. McCarthy sees the team’s size as an advantage, citing the group’s camaraderie.

For Thursday’s competition, the dance team has gone outside of the usual pop radio tunes for its music. The team will dance to Florence and The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” a song that may be most recognizable from the movie trailer for “Eat, Pray, Love.”

Sweeney actually cut the track and choreographed the dance with advisor Rebecca Damiani.

“It’s empowering to know I have the ability to do it,” said Sweeney of her skills.

Tickets for the competition can be purchased at the door for $7.