Medway cheerleaders end 22-year drought. Six days later, they made program history

No doubt indeed. Leave? Not anytime soon.

The Medway High cheerleading team created a team motto at the league championship competition: Leave No Doubt. The girls wrote “LND” just below their wrists and ended up leaving the competition in their wake for the remainder of the season.

The Mustangs, who placed second at the Tri-Valley League meet on Feb. 24, used the motto as a reminder: perform without uncertainty or hesitation. They did so with precision.

Medway won the program’s first state championship in 22 years on March 10 at Worcester State University and six days later won the New England title for the first time, also at WSU.

The historic accomplishments were achieved by a team of eight freshmen and four sophomores – not a single upperclassman among them.

“It was like no other season I could imagine,” said freshman Grace Farrell.

“With hundreds of hours put into just a couple of moments, it was all worth it,” said Jill sophomore Bartel. “Our team was able to accomplish our goal, which could also be called a dream.”

The team’s trip to States included a bus ride full of loud music before the Mustangs quietly got in the zone at Worcester State. Coach Kayla Ober asked the team to sit in a circle, close their eyes and envision executing each routine, which “eased our nerves and cleared our minds,” Farrell said.

During warmups, choreographer Eric Bichao encouraged the team to perform for themselves and the people they love. The Mustangs broke their silence with a near flawless routine.

“Once we hit the mat, the music was loud, the fans were loud and stunt after stunt was hitting,” Farrell said in an email. “It felt like no other comp(etition) we had done in the past.”

After all routines finished, awards were announced. Division 1 went first. Then Division 2. Medway competes in Division 3, and the wait was long. But worth every second.

“The feeling of excitement and relief is so surreal,” said Chloe Giallonardo. “Nothing tops it.”

The season was not over, however. Back to Worcester State for New Englands on the day before St. Patrick’s Day.

“After winning states, we felt we had a chance to win New Englands too if we just worked hard,” Farrell said. “When New Englands rolled around it was the exact same thing. We performed our routine better than we have ever performed it before!”

Medway put up a score of 188.7 and won that competition as well.

With a team – that also included Laney Brynczka, Willow Gowen, Julia Holden, Adelle McLaughlin, Grace McLaughlin, Olivia Olynciw, Nicole Oster, Eve Peristere and Samantha Tovar – of so many youngsters, it is likely that it won’t take another 22 years to create more history.

“I will be forever grateful for this team and the opportunity to be on it,” Bartel said. “I am so proud of what we were able to accomplish this season and I can’t wait to do it again.”

The championships, the trophies and the banners were nice, but as Brynczka noted, it’s the people around you who truly make the experience the most meaningful.

“One of the best things that came out this year was the bond our team has created,” the freshman said. “I’ve learned that while winning is awesome, who’s by your side when you get the trophy is what matters most.”

Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. He can be reached attdumas@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimDumas.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Medway cheerleading wins state and new england title