Winners of the last four Division I state championships and a multitude of other titles as the Alaska School Activities Association revamped their scoring and school size divisions, the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears cheer team ignited the George Houston Gymnasium over the weekend as they previewed dance routines through the GH Capital City Classic.

“I think we make the team special by the fact we all want to cheer,” JDHS senior Ayla Keller said. “All the people on the team want to be there, and the drive of wanting to be there is just so much greater than a team of people who don’t want to do it…And this is a team fully of people who put their entire heart on the floor and just want to do their best.”

Keller is in her fourth season, has been part of three state title teams and was close to losing her voice following the tournament’s last game.

“I was cheering my heart out,” she said, noting the near-capacity crowds all three nights. “I think it was just a new experience. Just since we no longer have a rival school in town, and it is just one school and one community. And I think our community is able to have our back more that we are only one school and just be able to support one school instead of two schools in one community. I think it just makes the team so much stronger.”

Last season JDHS edged now-defunct Thunder Mountain High School for the DI state title. Returning cheerleaders on both sides have strengthened the foundation already in place for the Crimson Bears, a larger student section and a bigger pep band. Ketchikan was third last season.

Junior Megan Pierce was at TMHS last year, but this is her first cheer season.

“This is a brand new experience for me,” Pierce said. “And it is something very fun and I am glad I am able to partake in it this year and next year…It is such a strange feeling because last year I only went to one basketball game the whole time and I saw the cheerleaders, on senior night actually, and it was a big thing with TM and JD. It was TM’s last games and it was JD’s chance to go to regions and it was so crazy having just the experience of everyone just like on the edge of their seat, ready to watch this basketball game. Now I feel that more fully because I’m a part of it and I’m not just someone in the stands. Now I get to bring that happiness to people.”

This year’s squad includes seniors Keller, Gabby Ely, Stefano Rivera and manager Sophia Percy; juniors Pierce, Audrey Yu, Hadley Bex, Karina San Miguel, Marlee Gines, Matt Iona, Mia Brown Cortez and Renz Hill; and sophomores Aidan Lazo and Alexa Scarano.

JDHS junior cheerleader Karina San Miguel said, in response to a question about the historically powerful Crimson Bears cheer squad, “I think it is everyone’s drive to do better and constantly improve. Especially last year because we have a lot of pressure, we are going up for a five-peat state champs this year.”

San Miguel has been cheering for JDHS for three seasons.

“So we have a lot of pressure on us,” she said. “So we really just use that to drive ourselves to do better and be the best we possibly can.”

The cheer squad was treated to a full house in all three evening double-headers for the girls and boys basketball games in the GHCCC.

“It’s been really great, a big learning experience, especially this year with the combining of the schools,” San Miguel said. “We didn’t really know how the crowd would be with the student section and what the pep band would sound like but it has all been a pretty good experience.”

Head coach Carlene Nore said, “We’ve approached this year as a learning and rebuilding year. We have kids who have cheered before and kids who are brand new to cheer from both schools. We’re finding our way as a team, making new friendships and promoting school spirit as students adjust during this time. Change is never easy and we’re all learning, growing and adapting. The team is excited for this season and happy to represent our school.”

Helping Nore are choreographer and assistant coach Colby Sanders and assistant coach Reuben Grimes.

Next up for the cheer squad is to support the JDHS boys home games this weekend against Ketchikan at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the GH Gymnasium.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no 2020 championship and Ketchikan won the 2019 title (Petersburg 3rd DII). But before that, JDHS won the co-ed division in 2018 (Sitka 2nd) and were also Grand Champions. The Crimson Bears also won the co-ed division in 2017 (Petersburg 3rd) then were absent from three years of state competition – 2016 Barrow GC / Large 1st West Valley, co-ed 3rd Petersburg, 7th Wrangell and 2015, Dimond GC & Large, East co-ed.

JDHS and Southeast won a variety of state titles before that, including 2014 (JDHS 2nd co-ed, 1st Time Out Cheer, 1st Time Out Dance / GC Dimond), 2013 (JDHS 1st co-ed, 1st TOC / Wrangell 5th Small, Mt. Edgecumbe 4th co-ed, Metlakatla 7th / Dimond 1st Large), 2012 (JDHS 1st co-ed Large, 1st TOC, 6th TOD / TMHS 2nd Large Building Division, KTN 3rd Stunt, Haines 2nd Small, Ketchikan 2nd Large, Sitka 4th Large, GC Eagle River), 2011 (GC Dimond, 1st Haines & 2nd Sitka Small BD, 2nd TMHS LBD), 2010 (JDHS 1st co-ed Medium, KTN 1st TMHS 2nd Small BD, 2nd MEHS Large BD, 1st HNS Mascot,), 2009 (JDHS 3rd co-ed Large, HNS 1st co-ed Small, MEHS 4th Medium Mount), 2008 (JDHS 3rd Mascot, 2nd co-ed Medium – PSG 1st / HNS 1st Medium Mount), 2007 (JDHS 1st Mascot, 2nd co-ed Large / PSG 1st co-ed Medium & Grand Champion), 2006 (JDHS 1st COM / PSG 1st COL & GC).

Prior to that, limited rankings included 2005 (PSG 1st co-ed & GC), 2004 (PSG 1st co-ed, Sitka 2nd Large), 2003 (PSG 2nd co-ed, JDHS/PSG 4A/3A Superior ratings, Soldotna GC).

• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.