Northampton High School’s cheerleaders clinched silver medals when they placed second in the large division at the District XI Class 3A Competitive Spirit Cheerleading Competition on March 6 at Easton Area Middle School.

The K-Kids routine began with standing tumbling and jumps, followed by single stunts and running tumbling, a quick pyramid, cheer, single stunts, dance, and a longer pyramid.

“We were so happy,” said Coach Lauren Irizarry, whose squad finished just three points behind Nazareth, the gold medalists.

To add to the excitement of winning second place, the K-Kids received the wild card bid to the PIAA State Competitive Spirit Championships.

“We’ll increase the difficulty in our single stunts,” Irizarry said. “We changed one skill for districts, a full-up prep to switch-up with one-quarter turn.”

That change was made after the East Penn Conference Competition in which Northampton placed fourth.

“The girls felt a little defeated, and our division was the hardest with Emmaus, Nazareth, Easton, and Pocono Mountain West,” Irizarry said. “[At districts] we were most nervous for the switch-ups after the cheer, but when they hit them, the girls standing in the back were jumping up and down, and the coaches were screaming.”

Since no spectators were allowed, the competition was livestreamed, and each squad stayed on their bus until it was their turn to warm-up and perform, returning to their bus immediately after.

“It worked out well,” said Irizarry.

Leading up to competition season, the K-Kids cheered for football, wrestling, and basketball.

“There were limited crowds, and it took awhile to get used to wearing masks, and to get used to smiling,” Irizarry said. “It was a hard season for many reasons.”

Irizarry referred to the heartbreak of losing her baby, but having her cheerleaders to lift her spirits was invaluable to the K-Kids head coach.

“It was something so positive in my life, to pull through with the team and make it to states,” she said.

Northampton cheerleaders are captain Cameron Bozik, Zanaysia Furlow, Alexa Henderson, Jionna Irwin, captain Emma Liebert, Abby Loch, Cameron Noti, Rosalia Passanisi, Vanessa Passanisi, Courtney Renson, Logan Rhoades, Alyssa Russell, Kayla Russell, Melina Shehab, Madison Small, Ryleigh Tillotson, Alexandra Tomsic, Hailee Troxell, Cadence Wilcox, and Mary Younes.

Coach Irizarry’s assistants are Kayla Cowitch and Cara Seward.

The PIAA State Competitive Spirit Championships are scheduled for April 10 in Hershey.