Prior to the sectional win on January 27, 2025, our Schaumburg Saxons took home their 5th MSL win in a row. The team rallied together at Fremd Invitational, securing 1st place out of 27 competing teams. The real victory, however, came on February 10 when the team secured 2nd place at state, the best finish in Schaumburg High School cheerleading history.
Competing at the Grossinger Area in Bloomington, the team competed all level four skills in partner stunts, pyramid, baskets, and tumbling.
The Saxons’ score of 93.68 put them fourth in the Large Team preliminary round of the finals. In the final round, however, they locked in a trophy with a score of 95.70, falling just short of Marist’s 96.52
“This team rose again to the challenge. They’ve exceeded everyone’s expectations once again. We feel on top of the world!” Coach Natalie Belcaster enthusiastically shared.
The athletes pushed themselves to perfection to hit another deduction free performance. What kept them going was not only the grit and relentless drive to improve, but also the creativity of the coaches who decided each season on a catchy theme to keep them apart from the competition. This year’s theme was as surprising as ever— “Dancing with the Stars”—and the athletes flipped, tumbled, and soared.
“The feeling was something I’ve never felt before. It was truly a euphoric and unforgettable experience, especially running up to the trophy. I never thought this day would come and it didn’t feel real at all,” recalled junior Karina Bahena.
“As a senior, my advice is to live in the moment and never take anything for granted. Cheerleading has been my life for so many years and now I have to close this chapter,” added senior Kylie Hellmer., “Enjoy every little thing that you do, if that’s a full out, another rep of a stunt, or even conditioning, because it will someday be gone.”
The team followed an intense schedule, often training five to six days a week, so they grew together like a family. Perfecting flexibility and body control requires time, but it also takes trust and reliance on teammates.. The smallest mistake can result in injury, so the trust they build helped throughout their historic season.
This success would not have been possible without the team’s spirit. It’s not just about individual improvement, but about a sense of being a part of something larger than themselves: “They are a group of athletes who are driven to be the best, tackle the hardest skills, practice like champions, and treat this program like family,” assessed the team’s strength Belcaster.
As the team won sectionals, qualified for state, and won the podium, their dreams materialized while the school’s spirit soared high. Last week, the school cheered for their achievements at a school wide assembly where the trophy was presented to Principal Harlan. This is definitely not the last time we hear about our legendary cheer team!