By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: Courtesy
Cheerleaders of Msgr. Edward Pace High School cluster during the state championship, where they won first place.
MIAMI GARDENS | The cheerleaders of Msgr. Edward Pace High School brought home the gold after two deduction-free performances Feb. 2, 2022 at the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state championships in Gainesville.
The Spartans faced a tough road to state competition when they placed third out of eight teams at the regional championships in early January. They had to go through the semifinals round of the state championships before they could advance to finals. Last year, they won the 2021 regional championship and headed straight to finals.
Photographer: Courtesy
Cheerleaders of Msgr. Edward Pace High School perform at the state championship, where they won first place.
“This year, I told the squad to be the team without mistakes,” Head Coach Surella Rodriguez said. “I urged them be the team that does not open the door for other teams to win the championship. And they did just that.”
The Spartans headed to state finals after winning the semifinal round against six teams. The Spartan cheerleaders were the last team before the awards ceremony, so the arena was packed to watch their performance. The team performed their routine without any deductions.
When Pace became state champions, it signaled the biggest comeback in Pace Cheerleading history. They also made history as the first-ever FHSAA state champions in 1A division cheerleading for Pace High School.
“Everything we worked for since the moment we were called state runners-up last year was coming to fruition,” said Assistant Coach Jasmine Mason. “All we wanted as coaches was for them to leave their hearts on the floor. We were ecstatic with what they achieved that day.”
