PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School competitive cheerleading squad finished second to the Tolman/Shea (Pawtucket) co-op in the Division I portion of the 2024 Rhode Island Interscholastic League championship meet held Saturday, March 9, at the Providence Career and Tech Academy Fieldhouse.

Both teams advanced to the 2024 New England Interscholastic Spirit Championship event scheduled for Saturday, March 16, at Worcester State University in Worcester, Mass.

Other champions crowned last weekend in Providence included West Warwick in the co-ed division, Pilgrim (Warwick) in Division II, Ponaganset in Division III and North Smithfield in Division IV. Each of those teams also qualified to vie in the regional event as did the other runners-up in their ranks North Providence, Lincoln, Johnston and Achievement 1st (Providence).

The 2024 EPHS competition cheer team roster includes: Averielle Alston-Page, Keegan Anderson, Sherlyn Argueta, Sabrina DaSilva, Juliana DeJesus, Aguida DeSousa, Rozaria DosSantos, Kiany Duarte, Kyannah Ferreira,  Nicole LaChapelle, Madison Slavic, Jordan Marlow, Kassidy Martins, Armani Miller, Jaylease Muzac, Evalyn Pacheco, Artemis Pacheco, Kelci Richards-Cabral, Haleigh Shirley, Alyssa Potrzeba and Samantha Zajac. Seniors DeSousa, DosSantos, Martins and Potrzeba are the team captains.

— Jim McGaw, editor of The Portsmouth Times, sister paper to The East Providence Post in the East Bay Media Group chain, took the accompanying gallery of photos.