Imagine the thrill of high school athletes pouring their hearts into flips, stunts, and cheers that echo through a packed arena— that's the electrifying world of Colorado's spirit championships, where determination meets dazzling performance!
In Denver, the Colorado High School Activities Association kept the excitement rolling on Friday at the 2025 Spirit State Championships, held at the bustling Denver Coliseum. This day spotlighted the All-Girl Cheer and Co-Ed Cheer events, where teams from across the state battled for glory. For those new to cheerleading, Co-Ed Cheer involves both male and female athletes working together on high-energy routines that include tumbling, pyramids, and synchronized chants—think of it as a mix of gymnastics, dance, and team spirit all in one fast-paced package.
Building on the All-Girl Cheer winners we covered earlier (check out the details here: https://chsaanow.com/news/2025/12/12/spirit-all-girl-cheer-state-champions-2025.aspx), the Co-Ed divisions saw some familiar faces hoisting trophies again. DSST: Cedar clinched the 2A/3A title for the second year running, Coal Ridge dominated 4A for their eighth year in a row, and Castle View secured 5A gold for the third consecutive season. Repeat victories like these aren't just lucky—they come from relentless practice and unbreakable team bonds. But here's where it gets controversial: do these dynasties motivate up-and-coming squads, or do they create an intimidating barrier that's hard to break?
Let's break down the 2A/3A Co-Ed Cheer action first. The Falcons from DSST: Cedar soared to victory, marking their second straight state championship. As coach Sam Barton shared, 'You just come in with more confidence. I think you're a little more relaxed. We worked on harder skills and really focusing on trusting ourselves, the team, and the work that we put in. And they executed.'
Barton also opened up about the challenges they faced: 'We’ve had a hard week. There’s been some sickness and injury, and neither routine was perfect. But they put their heart out there. I’m proud of them.' For beginners, this highlights how cheer isn't just about perfection—it's about resilience, pushing through obstacles like illnesses that could derail any team's prep.
In the finals, DSST: Cedar tallied an impressive 71.5 points. Coming in second was Wiley with 68.2, and Alamosa rounded out the top three at 66.1. These back-to-back wins are a huge milestone for the school, as they're their only state titles to date. The team also came close in previous years, finishing as runners-up in both 2022 and 2023. Barton reflected on their growth: 'We only had one senior last year, and the majority were first-year underclassmen. It’s still a team that is half new. They’ve still got a lot to learn.' With so many newcomers, it's a testament to how quickly a young group can gel and achieve big—imagine starting from scratch and hitting the top spot!
Shifting to 4A Co-Ed Cheer, Coal Ridge started the day in second place after the prelims but flipped the script with a flawless, zero-deduction performance in the finals, extending their streak to eight straight championships. Coach Alyssa Thurman addressed the pressure head-on: 'There definitely is pressure to keep the streak alive. But we just make sure that we prepare them really well so that they feel comfortable coming in and they hit their routine.'
This preparation paid off big time, as Coal Ridge scored 82.10 to take first, with Roosevelt nipping at their heels in second at 77.35. Thurman credited their success to 'hard work and team chemistry. This team was really awesome. We had 14 new kids on the team this year and only six returners. They just worked really hard and they did it.' And this is the part most people miss: blending veterans with rookies isn't easy, but when it clicks, it creates magic. Could this model be a blueprint for other teams looking to build lasting success, or does it rely too much on a winning culture that's tough to replicate?
Finally, in 5A Co-Ed Cheer, Castle View continued their reign with a third consecutive title— that's five wins in six years and nine in the last 12. Head coach Tatum Reel captured the emotional weight: 'This means so much. To come back year-after-year and continue to deliver the same result is really hard. People say it’s hard to get to the top, but it’s really hard to stay at the top.'
Reel also praised her team's grit: 'They’ve had a really hard season… a lot of ups and downs and just a lot of things to go through. But they’ve come out stronger on the end of it every single time, including today… this is just the cherry on top to the season, honestly.' The finals were nail-bitingly close, with Castle View edging out the competition at 88.25, Highlands Ranch in second at 86.10, and Pueblo West third at 85.80. For context, in cheer scoring, even a fraction of a point can swing the outcome, so this tight race shows just how competitive the top level gets.
The championships wrap up tomorrow with the dance categories, featuring jazz, poms, and hip-hop performances. If you're into rhythmic moves and creative expression, this is not to be missed—teams will kick off at 9 a.m., with finals starting around 3:12 p.m. What do you think— are these repeat champions setting an inspiring standard, or should the system shake things up to give underdogs a better shot? Drop your thoughts in the comments; I'd love to hear if you've got a favorite team or a hot take on cheer dominance!
