Fighting Saints Cheer Squads Take Second at Competitive Lake Zurich Invite

St. Charles East High School’s varsity and junior varsity cheer teams both earned second-place finishes Saturday at the Lake Zurich Invite, turning in clean, high-energy routines in one of the area’s more competitive early-season events at Lake Zurich High School.

Competing against a deep field, the Fighting Saints varsity squad delivered a fast-paced game-day–style performance that emphasized sharp motions, synchronized jumps and a steady progression of stunts. The routine built from foundational partner stunts into more complex sequences, featuring extended liberties and full-group pyramids that drew strong reactions from the crowd. Tumbling passes were timed closely with music changes, helping keep the routine on pace and within time limits.

The varsity group’s stunt sequences appeared to be a key factor in its podium finish. Flyers hit their body positions with minimal visible bobbles, and bases maintained control through dismounts that included synchronized cradle catches and timed transitions into the next formation. The closing pyramid segment showcased layered levels and connected transitions, giving the routine a strong finish that aligned with typical scoring priorities for difficulty, execution and overall effect.

St. Charles East’s JV team followed a similar blueprint, adjusting difficulty while maintaining tight execution. Their performance leaned on clean motions, well-timed sideline-style chants and crowd-leading elements that mirrored a true game-day atmosphere. JV stunt groups executed extensions and thigh-stand variations with consistent timing, and the team’s jump sequence—featuring toe touches and pikes in rapid succession—helped keep the energy high from start to finish.

Throughout the invite, both Saints squads were active in engaging the crowd, using call-and-response chants, sharp visual formations and clearly projected voices to connect the performance floor with the stands. Those game-day components, combined with music-driven dance sections, gave judges a complete look at each team’s versatility in both traditional competition elements and school-spirit–focused material.

With matching second-place finishes in what was described as a very competitive field, the outing at Lake Zurich offers St. Charles East an early benchmark for the rest of the season. The results suggest the Fighting Saints are positioned to contend at future invitationals, with opportunities to add difficulty to stunts and tumbling as they refine timing and transitions ahead of their next competition.