Lucia Martinez, a junior from Brussels, Belgium, shows spirit during the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany — The Triple Crown, the hat trick, the bowling turkey – good things happen in threes. Wiesbaden adds another now with its performance in the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships.
On Friday, in front of an energized hometown crowd at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center on Clay Kaserne, the Warriors twisted, twirled and tumbled their way to a third-straight Division I team championship.
“I am just so proud of them,” Wiesbaden coach Jaime Cook said. “It is a lot of work. They’re pushing themselves and their bodies and minds everyday preparing for comp[etition]but also have to do basketball cheer and support. It’s a crazy time of year.”
Cook highlighted the passion the Warriors cheer team has possessed throughout the years and the faith shared between the squad and herself as coach, as the Warriors secured their sixth cheer championship since 2016.
“It’s the best feeling for them, for our school, for our fans, having it back home again” Cook said. “It’s electric. It’s amazing. I’m not gonna go home and sleep tonight.”
Reese Wilson, a senior and cheerleader for all three of the Warrior’s latest victories, said despite having a mostly new team this year, Wiesbaden found success in and bonded over what the team calls “the spark”.
“It’s like when people start to get goosebumps,” Wilson said. “When you know, you know that the team has come together, or you know things are just gonna start working.”
Meanwhile, Naples and AFNORTH won the Division II and Division III championships, respectively.
Eighteen teams competed in the competition: seven in Division I, four in Division II and seven in Division III.
Each team performed roughly two-and-a-half-minute routines that combined elements of dance, tumbling, stunts and cheering.
In addition to the team competition, a game-day competition judged teams in each division on live cheer performance during other high school sports events. Judges also awarded teams and individual accolades for division stunt competitions and selection for the All-Tournament team during the concluding ceremony Friday.
Wiesbaden won the Division I game-day and mixed stunt competitions with Wilson also named to the All-Tournament team.
American Overseas School of Rome cheerleaders prepare to catch Reiley Elizabeth Lester after a throw during the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Naples cheerleaders perform synchronized backflips during the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Naples claimed the Division II champion title during the competition. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Jack Hatch leads a jump with the Wiesbaden cheer team during the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Wiesbaden won the DODEA-Europe Division I Cheerleading Championship for the third consecutive year. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Reese Wilson displays Wiesbaden’s gold school color during the during the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Wilson has cheered on the Warriors team for each of their last three championships. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Chadwik Berrey fires up his Stuttgart teammates during the team’s routine at the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Judges named Berrey to the All-Tournament team during the competition. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Ghianelle Flores, a sophomore at Baumholder High School chants during the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Male cheerleaders from across DODEA-Europe share a lighthearted moment at the conclusion of the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Haley Schmidt claps with her Naples teammates as they walk to receive their championship plaque at the closing ceremony of the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Naples won the Division II championship. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden cheerleaders react to hearing the team announced as the Division I champion during the 2024 DODEA-Europe Cheerleading Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. This was the third-consecutive cheerleading championship for Wiesbaden. (Brad Latham/Stars and Stripes)
DIVISION I
Team
1. Wiesbaden 2. Stuttgart 3. Ramstein
Game-day winner: Wiesbaden
All-Tournament: Malaika Hallo – Kaiserslautern; Taylor Stutzman – Lakenheath; Logan Diefenderfer – Ramstein; Shaely McMullen – SHAPE; Chadwik Berrey, Emily Blalock – Stuttgart; Gabriella Rivera Cruz – Vilseck; Reese Wilson – Wiesbaden.
DIVISION II
Team
1. Naples 2. Vicenza 3. Rota
Game-day winner: Naples
All-Tournament: Domitilla Di Bartolomei, Reiley Elizabeth Lester – AOSR; Carla Sellari, Andrija Torrey – Naples; Izzy Killion, Mady Orlowski – Rota; Halani Ayers, Sabrina Lassalle – Vicenza.
DIVISION III
Team
1. AFNORTH 2. Alconbury 3. Spangdahlem and Sigonella (tie)
Game-day winner: Alconbury
All-Tournament: A’zya Cowans – AFNORTH; Sofia Leas Cruz – Alconbury; Emery Smith – Baumholder; Braya Forrest – Brussels; Genesis Levinthol-Winkler – Hohenfels; Brayden Haley, Jaelynne Rosier – Sigonella; Salma Stevenson – Spangdahlem.
