Two years had passed since Bloomingdale High took home a Hillsborough County cheerleading championship.
In that time, the Bulls merely won consecutive state titles. But they wanted to reclaim the county crown, and they did that Tuesday night.
In a packed Freedom High gymnasium, Bloomingdale performed a flawless routine to win the Western Conference cheerleading championship. Plant City won the title last year and Durant in 2008, snapping a four-year win streak by the Bulls.
"This is a great year to get it back," Bloomingdale senior captain Larissa Menke said. "We just feel so honored and proud because we worked so hard."
Bloomingdale was one of 10 teams advancing to Tuesday night's finals from the semifinal field of 27. Durant finished second, and Chamberlain was third. The other finalists were Newsome, Freedom, Robinson, Wharton, Steinbrenner, Riverview and Plant.
Each squad performed a routine jam-packed with tumbling, dance, and of course, cheering. Bloomingdale performed second in the field of 10 and immediately set the bar high with a routine filled with high-degree-of-difficulty skills.
The Bulls will go for a three-peat at the FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading Championships in Kissimmee on Feb. 5.
"They came together as a team this year and really proved themselves," Bloomingdale coach Candice Teague. "This gives them so much confidence going into states because they have proved themselves."
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