EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School Competition Cheer team reached the crux of its 2022-23 schedule over the last few weeks, competing in a pair of top level championship events.

At the Providence Career and Tech Academy Fieldhouse Saturday, March 11, the Townies placed as the runners-up in the Rhode Island Interscholastic League’s Division I state meet behind the champions from Pawtucket, the Tolman/Shea co-operative. North Kingstown was third. The Rogers/Middletown co-op placed fourth.

The top three teams at states moved on to the New England Spirit Championships Saturday, March 18, at Worcester State University where the Townies did not place. The competition is sponsored Council of New England Secondary Schools Principals' Associations.

East Providence finished 11th at the D-I level with a score of 127.9. NK finished just ahead of the Townies in 10th with a 130.1. State champ Tolman/Shea was eighth with a 154.9.

Franklin (Mass.) High School won the New England D-I title with a score of 192, narrowly beating Pinkerton Academy of Derry, NH, which finished second with a 191.4. Danbury (Conn.) High School was a distant third with a 181.1.

The 2022-23 EPHS Competition Cheer team included Sherlyn Argueta, Kelci Cabral, Rozaria DosSantos, Aliyah Evora, Paige Kennedy, Nicole LaChapelle, Jordan Marlow, Kassidy Martins, Armani Miller, McKenzie Pacheco, Evalyn Pacheco, Averielle Page, Jazlyn Rodrigues, Thais Rodrigues, Madison Slavick and Janessa Steele. Brandy Ethier was the head coach assisted by Faith Jean, Alexandrea Avila and Skyla Marchand.

“We didn’t place, but we had a lot of fun though,” Ethier said of the Townies’ outing at New Englands. “It may not have ended with a win, but it certainly ended with a smile. We’re looking forward to putting in the hard work and returning again next season.”

Plainville (Mass.) High School edged out West Warwick for the co-ed regional title, scoring 186.7 to the 186.4 of the nearby Wizards. Leominster (Mass.) High School with a score of 183.6. La Salle Academy was fifth with a 180.7.

Joel Barlow High School, of Redding, Conn., won the D-II regionals with a score of 165.1 beating another Nutmeg State entry, Fitch of Groton, which tallied a 161.7. Rhode Island D-II champ North Providence High School was third with a 158.5.

Wolcott (Conn.) High School won the New England D-III title with a 171.5, followed East Bridgewater (Mass.) High School 170.5 and Wilmington (Conn.) High School in third with a 167.7. D-III state champ Ponaganset was fourth with a 164.2.

Case High, of close-by Swansea, won the D-IV regional crown with a score of 174.5 with Oxford (Conn.) High School second 167.8 and Ansonia (Conn.) High School 155.1. RI D-IV champ North Smithfield finished sixth with a 149.9.

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com staff photographer Rich Dionne shot the accompanying gallery of photos.