It’s been 28 years since Raton Cheer Coach Linda Ortiz began coaching cheer at Raton High, and this year her 2019 cheer team added a fourth state championship to that legacy as they topped the class 3A cheer competition at the NM State Spirit Competition in Albuquerque on March 29 and 30.
Coach Ortiz told a crowd that gathered at Tiger Gym late Saturday night, to welcome the state champs home, that she was so happy with the parents support and help with the girls noting they couldn’t have done it without them.
In conversation with Coach Ortiz she said the girls had a great state preview performance Tuesday evening in Raton and they continued that excellence on Friday with a nine point lead after competition completed Friday morning. The girls had another almost flawless performance Saturday morning in The Pit and extended their points lead to over 10 points scoring a total of 163.81 over second place Dexter who scored a total 153.29 and third place Cobre with a 129.19 score.
In 2016 the Raton Cheer Squad took the state title with a 12 point win over Pecos giving Coach Ortiz quite the gift for her 25th year of coaching. Pecos was once again in the competition this time in class A-2A battling Clayton for the title. After Friday Clayton was only half a point ahead of Ft Sumner and 1.5 points over Pecos. At the end of the competition Clayton came out on top barely with a 169.54 score over second place Pecos with a 169.22 and third place Ft Sumner with a 162.29 score.
Coach Sue Holland brought a still improving dance team to the state competition where they performed very well. Her team continues to get better and this year they held a two tenths of a point third place lead after Friday’s competition. By the time Saturday’s competition was completed, West Las Vegas had overcome that two tenths of a point lead to take over third place and push Raton to fourth.
Again it was the private schools dominating the 3A Dance Competition, as St Mikes (171.6) and Sandia Prep (165.7) finished ahead of West Las Vegas with a 146.2 score and Raton’s 141.4 score.
The Raton Cheer and Dance teams will take a well deserved break and start things all over again in about a month. The teams will begin the new season with tryouts and team members attending camps and other training over the summer. They will be ready to go when Raton football takes the field in August and the girls hit the volleyball court in September. Their performances will continue for seven months until they compete in state competition again in March next year.
RHS Cheer Team; Sr. Alexandra Barry, So. Alexia Marquez, Jr. Aliyah Samora, So. Ariona Marquez, Fr. Brooklyn Lawrence, 8th Deja Garcia, Fr. Faith Allison, Jr. Jennifer Acosta, So. Joslin Mascarenas, Sr. Justice Leavitt, Sr. Justine Mascarenas, So. KayLee Maes, Jr. Laynee Segura, So. Sarah Ware, Sr. Skylar Mastrantoni, 7th Manager Tyleigh Valdez
RHS Dance Team; Fr. Alexis Sanchez, 8th grader Jaylynn Trueba, Jr. Joie Chiatamonte, Fr. Jordyn Chiaramonte, Jr. Lillian Romero, Jr. Melinda Murcia, Jr. Shilyn Padilla and 8th grader Travis Garcia.
RHS Cheerleaders relaxing before their performance Friday morning at The Pit on the UNM Campus at the 2019 State Spirit Competition.Aliyah Samora and Brooklyn Lawerence shout it out as they perform Friday morning during the 2019 State Spirit Competition in AlbuquerqueSr Jennifer Acosta belts it out as the RHS Cheer team perform at the 2019 State Spirit Competition March 29-30 in The Pit in AlbuquerqueJoslyn Mascarenas goes bang as the RHS Cheer Squad performs at the Friday morning at the 2019 State Spirit CompetitionSr Justice Leavitt goes bang at the 2019 State Spirit Competition Friday morning.The Raton Cheer Squad perform an almost flawless routine Friday morning in The Pit on the UNM Campus in Albuquerque at the 2019 State Spirit CompetitionRHS Cheer teams rallies the troops as they prepare to perform Saturday morning at the 2019 State Spirit CompetitionUp in the air as the RHS Cheer team performs for the noisy Raton crowd at the 2019 State Spirit Competition in Albuquerque Saturday morningRHS Cheer at the 2019 State Spirit Competition Saturday morningRHS Cheer team performs at the 2019 State Spirit Competition Saturday morning in The PitThe RHS Cheer squad takes to the air as their routine goes to the next level Saturday morning at the 2019 State Spirit CompetitionThe RHS Cheer team at the 2019 State Spirit Competition on Saturday morning March 30RHS Tiger Cats Dance team perform Friday afternoon in The Pit at the 2019 State Spirit CompetitionThe RHS Tiger Cats Dance team at the 2019 State Spirit Competition Friday afternoonThe Tiger Cats Dance Team includes Melinda Murcia, Jordyn Chiaramonte, Alexis Sanchez, Joie Chiaramonte, Travis Garcia, Jaylynn Trueba and Lillian Romero performing at the 2019 State Spirit Competition Friday morning in AlbuquerqueThe RHS Tiger Cats Dance Team at the 2019 State Spirit Competition in AlbuquerqueJaylyn Trrueba and Travis Garcia perform a quick routine Saturday afternoon at the 2019 State Spirit Competition in The Pit on the UNM CampusThe Tiger Cats Dance Team finish up their Saturday afternoon performance at the 2019 State Spirit Competition in AlbuquerqueRHS cheerleaders await the announcement of their first place win at the 2019 State Spirit Competition held in Albuquerque at The Pit on the UNM Campus1 of 1 WE WON!!!! The cheers go up as the RHS Cheer squad hears the announcement that they won the Class 3A state spirit championship Saturday evening in the Pit on the UNM campus.2 of 2 WE WON!!!! The cheers go up as the RHS Cheer squad hears the announcement that they won the Class 3A state spirit championship Saturday evening in the Pit on the UNM campus.The 2019 RHS Cheer Team; Coach Jennifer Portillos, Coach Randal Herrera, Ariona Marquez, Aliyah Samora, KayLee Maes, Laynee Segura, Jennifer Acosta, Alexandra Barry, Sarah Ware, Justine Mascarenas, Manager Tyleigh Valdez, Skylar Mastrantoni, Justice Leavitt, Faith Allison, Alexia Marquez, Joslin Mascarenas, Deja Garcia, Brooklyn Lawrence, Head Coach Linda OrtizOne happy bunch of girls as they celebrate after their official state photo.Senior Justine Mascarenas holds the trophy high as the Lady Tigers celebrate their 2019 State Spirit Championship.The girls singing to the song “We Are The Champions” after winning the 3A State Cheer Title Saturday in AlbuquerqueThe 2019 RHS Cheer Team; Coach Jennifer Portillos, Coach Randal Herrera, Brooklyn Lawrence, Deja Garcia, Sarah Ware, Skylar Mastrantoni, KayLee Maes, Laynee Segura, Joslin Mascarenas, Justine Mascarenas, Aliyah Samora, Jennifer Acosta, Faith Allison, Ariona Marquez, Alexia Marquez, Justice Leavitt, Manager Tyleigh Valdez, Alexandra Barry, Head Coach Linda OrtizCongratulations to the Class 2A State Champion Clayton Yellowjackettes Cheer Team: Coached by Lynette Keeth Alisha Gallagher So.; Bailey Jensen (C)Sr.; Brandy Keeth Fr.; Cassandra Gonzalez (C) Sr.; Dawnia Marquez Jr.; Dyanne Montoya Sr.; Ethan Lawrence Jr.; Gracie Gallagher Fr.; Kelsie Chadborn Fr.; Mackenzie Christie So.; Maranda Arguello Sr.; Samantha Craine Fr.; Shailee Keeth So.; Tayler Sandoval Jr.(Former Raton Cheer)
