The Bear Lake High School cheerleading team recently competed in the Fifth District 4A cheer tournament at Idaho State University in Pocatello where the Bears faced off against several other schools.

After a long day of performances, Bear Lake secured spots at the state competition in three categories: All-Girl Pom, All-Girl Sideline and All-Girl Show.

In All-Girl Pom, a high-energy contest focused on fast-paced dancing, Bear Lake earned a third-place trophy at the district competition.

The Bears' performance in All-Girl Sideline, involving crowd-leading cheers and stunts, and All-Girl Show, a challenging mix of dancing, cheering, stunting and tumbling, both earned the team second-place district trophies.

Bear Lake head coach Jesi Earley, reflecting on her team’s achievements, praised the athletes for their work ethic and dedication.

"Coaching this team has been a great experience," she said. "They are hardworking, coachable and eager to compete. This is one of the most talented teams I’ve worked with. The team has mastered complex stunt sequences, and much of their drive comes from the legacy of past Bear Lake cheerleaders. The seniors have made sacrifices to help the team perform better and their contributions to team bonding and game-day activities have been invaluable."

This season has marked a significant transition for the Bear Lake team as they moved up to the more competitive 4A division.

“Moving to 4A was a big step. We set a goal at summer camp to place in at least one event, so being able to place in all three is a major accomplishment,” said Earley. “The competition at this level is intense and we are excited about the opportunity to compete at state.”

The All-Girl Show competition, which involves a 2 1/2 minute performance that includes stunts, tumbling, dancing and cheering, was a focal point for the Bears this season.

“We focused heavily on stunts and pyramids, which are our strengths, and designed the routine to highlight that,” Earley explained.

The team also placed third in the Pom competition, a 1-minute performance consisting of only dance, without stunts or tumbling.

"Our Pom routine this year has been a challenge and we made some adjustments to improve our placement at state," Earley said.

The Sideline routine, a 1-minute cheer with no music and no tumbling, saw another strong performance by the Bears at the district competition.

“Sideline is focused on engaging the crowd with signs and flags and it has been one of our strongest routines this season,” Earley noted.

This season also marked the inclusion of a male cheerleader, Ethan Glenn, on the Bear Lake team, which introduced new dynamics for the squad.

"Ethan has done a great job learning stunts and tumbling basics. Having a male cheerleader has added a new challenge, but it has been a positive experience for the team,” said Earley.

As the team prepares for the state competition, adjustments are being made to fine tune their routines.

"We are focusing on small changes that could help us stand out at state. We are hoping to prove that Bear Lake has a competitive program that belongs in 4A," Earley said.

The Bears will get their chance to prove they're the best of the best at the state cheerleading playoffs on Feb. 23 at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.