Bonney Lake Cheer Qualifies for State, Putting the Panthers Back on the Map
- The Insider
- 52 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Sometimes you can feel it before the score is announced.
Bonney Lake’s cheerleaders had been here before, confident, hopeful, close, only to walk away just short. At their previous competition, they missed the State-qualifying score by a razor-thin 1.1 points. The routine was good. The effort was there. The result hadn’t followed.
This time, at Harbor Cheerfest in Gig Harbor, the ending was different.
When the announcer called out “Bonney Lake,” the reaction was immediate and unforgettable.
“Hearing the announcer say ‘Bonney Lake’ was a scream-worthy moment,” head coach Stephanie Robb said. “I could feel the excitement and the relief from our team, and us coaches were absolutely beaming with pride.”
The Panthers’ Traditional Competition Cheer Team finished second out of six teams in the Medium Non-Tumbling division, but more importantly, they hit the State-qualifying score, earning a trip to State for just the second time in school history. The first came two seasons ago, at State 2024.
This year’s qualification carries even more weight.
So far, Bonney Lake is one of only three teams in Washington State to qualify in its division, a statement not just of talent, but of consistency and execution.
Understanding the accomplishment
In cheer, qualifying for State isn’t about placement alone. Teams must reach a qualifying score for their performance type, meaning even a first-place finish doesn’t guarantee advancement.
Bonney Lake did both.
Competing in Traditional Non-Tumbling, a division heavily focused on precision stunting and execution, the Panthers delivered a routine that was clean, controlled, and confident, exactly what judges reward.
A team that endured, and bonded
What makes this team special right now isn’t just what happened on the mat. It’s what happened before they ever stepped onto it.
In the past four years, the program has seen four different head coaches. That kind of turnover can fracture a team. Instead, it forged one.
“The one constant they’ve had is each other,” Robb said. “Because of that, they’ve grown immensely close and bonded through adversity.”
There’s a toughness to this group, a quiet resilience that shows up when it matters most. It’s visible in their grit, their loyalty, and the way they perform for one another.
A moment for seniors, and a message to the future
For the seniors, the State qualification is a fitting reward.
“They get to finish off their last year of high school cheer on a high note,” Robb said. “That means everything.”
For the younger athletes, especially the freshmen, the message is clear.
“Get used to this ladies,” Robb added. “This is our new normal.”
Building something bigger
Robb stepped into the head coaching role in August 2025, just two weeks before cheer camp. With limited time and a program in transition, she made a deliberate choice: strip everything back to the fundamentals.
Stunting basics. Safety. Execution.
“We may not have the most difficult routine out on the floor,” she said, “but we hit our stunts solid, and this team brings the excitement.”
It’s a philosophy that paid off, and one that hints at what’s ahead.
“Every year with a new coach is considered a building year,” Robb said. “But if this is our building year, just imagine where this team will be next year…or even three years from now.”
Bonney Lake Cheer isn’t just qualifying for State.
They’re announcing themselves.
It’s a great day to be a Panther.
Bonney Lake Cheer – Traditional Competition Team
Medium Non-Tumbling | State Qualifiers
Annalise Jeppesen (Fr)
Cidney Brown (Jr)
Clover Hughes (Jr)
Ellie Osborn (Jr)
Ellie Wilson (Jr)
Erin Grijalva (Sr)
Gabi Attwell (Fr)
Honesty Calloway (Jr)
Kali Haueter (Sr)
Kinley Hardwick (Jr)
Madison Dellay (So)
Maeve Harrington (Fr)
Mica Bailey (Jr)
Nia Lungu (Sr)
Olivia Carr (So)
Sadie Ennis (Fr)
Saundra Jackson (Fr)
Taryn Hewitt (Sr)
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Stephanie Robb
Assistant Coaches: Carrie Crane, McKenna Nicholson