The cheer team took first place at the MHSAA district tournament hosted at KHS on Friday, Feb 17.

The top four teams advance to the regional competition.

The Hornets earned 231.00 points during round one, 215.06 during round two, and 340.40 during round three.

Kearsley took first place with 750.46 points.

Bay City Central finished with 741.76 as the runner-up.

Pinckney took third with 727.16, and Owosso placed fourth with 722.68 points.

Junior Kaylee Hill was dumbfounded to see the results.

“We, as a team, were shocked and were expecting the worst,” Hill said. “When they announced we had won, it was so surreal.”

For junior Amanda VanOoteghem, her team’s accomplishments made her happy.

“I am really excited that we can say we are both conference and district champs,” VanOoteghem said. “We have come this far. We can’t back down now (going into the regional).”

The team’s next competition is the MHSAA Division 2 regional Saturday, Feb. 24, at Fenton. The competition starts at 10 a.m.

The Hornets must finish in one of the top fours sports in order to advance to the state final.

Senior Kaitlyn Alburtus is confident the Hornets can keep up their hard work.

“We are both conference and district champs. I know we will do well,” Alburtus said. “My team’s hard work is paying off and that makes me happy.”