In other words, Warren Area High School’s Competitive Spirit squad won its third District 10 championship since 2018 on Saturday at McDowell Senior High School.

Winning the D10 Class 3A Small Varsity Division over Oil City and Erie High ensures the Dragons’ their fifth-straight trip to the PIAA championships

On Jan. 30-31, the state’s best squads will perform at Reading’s 7,100-seat Santander Arena.

“The feeling does not get old,” said Melissa Feaster, who has been Warren’s head coach for every D10 title. “It’s an incredible experience to share with the girls every time.”

Photo submitted to Times Observer Members of the WAHS competitive spirit team react after finding out they won the District 10 Class 3A Small Varsity Division title Saturday at McDowell Senior High School.

This season, WAHS “moved up in classification” from 2A to 3A for the D10 meet.

“The teams competing at championships have grown over the last two years,” said Feaster. “This year, there were a total of 11 teams competing. The four District 10 bids were based off the number of teams registered in each of the size classification (2A and 3A). The spread of these entries can vary during each reclassification cycle. This year was a reclassification cycle. Oil City and Warren both moved up in classification for competitive spirit — moving from 2A to 3A.”

There were seven teams in Class 2A and four in 3A. Here’s the kicker: Winning a District 10 title did not guarantee a trip to states.

“In years past, if you won the division, you moved to states. Now it’s based off of the highest scores,” said Feaster.

Two entries automatically qualified in Class 2A, but only one team from 3A; Host McDowell won the Class 3A Co-Ed Varsity Division with the highest score of 84.63 points. Hickory advances as the D10 2A Large Varsity champion (77.87 points), and Wilmington as the 2A Small Varsity champ (71). Warren also qualifies as the lone at-large bid that encompassed the next highest score regardless of classification.

Photo submitted to Times Observer Members of the WAHS competitive spirit squad compete during the District 10 championships Saturday at McDowell Senior High School.

“The whole event is an emotional roller coaster to tell you the truth,” said Feaster. “The anxiety and work leading up to the event, the anxiety and excitement you have the day of, and waiting until it’s your time to compete. Then the adrenaline rush and excitement you have taking the mat. The thrill of the whole two minutes and thirty seconds of the routine. Celebrating an amazing performance. Then you cycle right back into the anxiety because you have to sit and wait for everyone else to compete to hear the results of the event. Then the emotion of winning. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Warren’s seniors include captains Annette Carrington, Shaina Critzer, Faith Hovan and Emily Sudul, as well as Hailey Graham, Maddi Herzog and Kendra Noe; juniors Peyton Kent and Delaney Wright; sophomores Alena Papalia, Elaina Retterer and Hayden Schuler; and freshmen Elise Amsdell, Annabelle Harvey and Josephine Pearson. Alternates included senior Neveah Seekins, sophomores Jayelyn Christensen and Maya Philhower, and freshman Kendra Tudor.

“Winning districts doesn’t mean just holding a small plaque with a little cheerleader on it; winning districts means all the months, days, and hours that we spent for this moment to come true,” said Carrington. “When we won districts my freshman year, it was the best feeling in the world, and I have never forgotten it. I always wanted to feel that again, and have others feel the way I did in that moment. When they said our name for the champions, the faces around me lit up with happiness. Seeing how happy the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors felt in that moment made me feel accomplished, not just as a captain or as a senior, but just overall proud of everything that everyone has put into this sport.”

Hovan wasn’t here for the D10 title as a freshman.

“It’s been an unreal season,” she said. “Being on this team has shown me what a true cheerleading team should be like. Being able to see the growth of the team; seeing the hard work and dedication everyone put in to be D10 champions is a feeling I wish everyone could experience. I wouldn’t want to experience this with any other team. I am so incredibly proud of everyone.”

District 10 results

Class 2A Small Varsity Division

Wilmington 71.00

Fairview 63.53

Harbor Creek 61.26

Corry 58.03

Class 2A Large Varsity Division

Hickory 77.87

Lakeview 65.33

Class 2A Coed Varsity Division

Cathedral Prep 66.20

Class 3A Small Varsity Division

Warren 73.00

Oil City 64.60

Erie High 56.26

Class 3A Coed Varsity Division

McDowell 84.63

Note: PIAA bids were given to the top two 2A squads, the top 3A squad and one for the next highest score regardless of class or division.