Congratulations to the Hopkinton High School (HHS) Varsity Cheer team for making it to the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association Fall Cheerleading Tournament (States) for the first time in 10 years! The Hillers placed 12th out of 30 Division 2 teams at the state championships, and their coach, Rachel DeMore, couldn’t be prouder of them.

When asked about the team’s performance at the state championship, Coach DeMore remarked, “They were incredible. This is truly an outstanding group of girls, and I am impressed by them every day. The talent, drive and ambition of this year’s freshmen are remarkable! I appreciate them immensely.”

Ally Link became the HHS Cheer assistant coach in October. “I’m so very grateful for her; she’s made an amazing addition to this team,” shared DeMore. Link cheered for Kingsway Regional High School from 2011 to 2015, Kingsway Elite from 2013 to 2015, and Philly Cheer Elite from 2023 to 2024 before coming to Hopkinton.

Upon learning that the HHS team had qualified for states, held in Worcester on Nov. 24, coach DeMore declared, ‘This means so much to me, and when I get going, it’s hard to slow down my excitement and pride.”

Cheer Practice

A few days prior to their state competition, HopNews observed a practice session with the HHS varsity cheer team. The level of athleticism exhibited by the team was truly impressive. They executed physically challenging maneuvers, including jumps, tumbles, and lifts, which demanded not only individual skill but also precise timing and teamwork.

Cheerleading is a fiercely competitive sport that demands stamina, flexibility, and balance, accompanied by rigorous training. The choreography involved in cheerleading routines requires precise coordination among team members. The combination of artistry and athletic skill displayed at every game and every competition is exceptional and shows their commitment to both physical excellence and team solidarity.

Fall State Championship for Division 2 Schools

HHS Varsity Cheer at MS State Championship, Fall 2024

“The girls were amazing!” DeMore said. “They delivered a wonderful performance and had a great time doing it. It was a bittersweet moment, though, as about half of the team is participating in winter cheer while the other half is engaged in different sports. This was their final opportunity to perform this routine together as a team.”

More About Coach DeMore

A math teacher at Clinton High School by day and varsity cheer coach at Hopkinton High (HHS) by night, DeMore is an alumna of HHS (2011 to 2015), and she’s a member of the last team to appear in the state finals — 10 years ago when they won the national championship. “Since high school, I’ve wanted to coach in Hopkinton,” DeMore said.

She hopes to give back to the program that played such a significant role in her youth. The Hopkinton varsity cheerleading program holds immense importance for her.

Coach DeMore started her coaching journey three years ago. Approximately midway through last year, she became the head coach. She shared her excitement, saying, “This was my first full year as their head coach, and I love it so much!”

DeMore began cheering at an early age. She cheered for the Hopkinton-Ashland Raiders from age 6 to 14, and then she began cheering for HHS in 2011, her freshman year. That’s when she met coach Melissa Zwang, then the HHS cheer coach, who had a significant impact on her life. Zwang’s tenure as coach spanned from 2003 to 2016 and was marked by significant achievements, particularly during DeMore’s time on the team from 2011 until her graduation in 2015.

Some of the titles won by the HHS Cheer during DeMore’s high school cheer career

• Massachusetts Statewide Competition: The team advanced to the States highly esteemed event a whopping 8 times in total in the Fall and Winter seasons between 2011 to 2012.
• National qualifications: HHS Cheer attended Nationals each of the 4 Fall seasons from 2011 to 2015.
• National Champions: HHS were best in the entire United States in 2014.
• New England Championships: The team earned a berth at the New England Championships, a winter-season-only event, on 3 occasions 2011 to 2015.

DeMore earned her degree from Framingham State University, where she was a cheerleader for a couple of years and participated in competitions. During her time there, the cheerleading team competed at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) Nationals, achieving second place in 2019 and third in 2018. from DeMore’s time at HHS.

HHS State Champions in 2014

Click to see larger photos

According to DeMore, “These achievements are a testament to the strength of the program Coach Melissa Zwang built at Hopkinton High School, where she coached for 13 years and left a legacy of excellence in cheerleading.”

Not Recognized as a Sport?

Cheerleading is still widely viewed through outdated stereotypes that cast cheerleaders as primarily concerned with looks, not athleticism. Media representation further solidifies this notion, as they used to depict a classically glamorized and sexualized picture of cheerleading, often at the cost of the in-depth physical training and athletic abilities that are involved with cheerleading.

Cheerleading is still not recognized as a sport by the NCAA or Title IX, among other organizations, and this status contributes to the marginalization of its athletes. This lack of recognition means that cheerleaders often miss out on the same level of support, funding, or respect that is extended to other athletes, even though they undergo the same training regimen and commitment.