Baldwin cheerleaders earn chance to compete at state
The Baldwin High School cheerleading team will be representing the Maui Interscholastic League at the state finals on Oahu, after claiming the crown in Valley Isle competition.
The Zippy’s 2024 State Cheerleading Championships takes place at the Neal Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu on Nov. 13.
“I’m incredibly proud of all our student athletes and coaches,” said Rachel Blair, the League’s cheer coordinator.
“Cheerleading takes hard work and athleticism — dance, tumbling and gymnastics. It is an impressive sport.”
Baldwin High’s team successfully competed against cheerleading teams from Maui High and Kamehameha High School-Maui on Oct. 19.
Maui High finished in second place, followed by Kamehameha at the finals at the Kamehameha Schools Maui gym.
The Baldwin Bears cheerleading team has some solid history in their sport.
At one point in the last decade, the Bears posted a four-year win streak including the state title in 2019 in the large division, defeating Mililani High School.
Blair said she’s happy to see former Baldwin High cheerleader Madison Murayama serving as the head coach for the Bears.
Blair, now the athletic director for Kulanihakoi High School in Kihei, recalled she was a physical education teacher at Maui Waena Intermediate School in Kahului, where Murayama was once a student.
Murayama served as assistant coach for the Hawaii All-Stars, winning the gold in two divisions in the All-Star World Championship in Orlando, Florida, in 2022.
Besides coaching cheerleading, Murayama has competed at various levels as a gymnast and has served as a gymnastic coach.
The high school cheerleading competition in the Maui Interscholastic League has exchanged hands occasionally, with Maui High taking first place in 2023 and Lahainaluna High in 2021.
Varsity cheerleading team members for Baldwin High includes Ariana Ancheta, Alea Arakawa, Alohilani Bantilan, Kylie Cardenas, Tiana Castillo, Sierra Farias, Tayler Idemoto-Roloos, Mia Kondo-Long, Mia Magsayo, Olivia Losano, Mackenna Miles, Kaimana Shannon, Peyton Simeon, Channel Sumabat, and Kamaile Wickes.