In its first year competing in the HHSAA state cheerleading championships, Sacred Hearts seized the moment by winning the medium-division title.

The Lancers posted a final score of 503.50, the highest of the day in either division. Kaiser finished as the runner-up in the 15-team medium division with a 487.25. It’s also the ILH’s first championship in the medium division since 2002, when Kamehameha won it.

In the large division, Mililani captured its second consecutive state championship with a team score of 499.50. ‘Iolani came in second with a 484.25, Baldwin finished third with a 461.50 and Maui rounded out the field with a 344.00.

For a school like Sacred Hearts that didn’t know what to expect heading into its first state competition, the formula for coach Cadey Vakauta was a relentless work ethic. After tryouts in May, training started in June. Since then, the Lancers have consistently practiced for three hours a day and seven days a week.

“Hard work beats talent, and it’s not over until the clock hits zero. We’re not stopping here,” Vakauta said of her squad, which doesn’t have a single senior on it. “We felt really blessed for the opportunity.

“To win first place is amazing, and we’re just so glad we could do it for our school and our community.”

With the work put in, the reality of the payoff put Vakauta in an emotional state.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. We weren’t expecting this at all. I’m just so proud of how far they’ve all come,” she said while wiping away tears. “Sacred Hearts is on the map now, and I’m so happy we could do that for our small school.”

Meanwhile, Mililani didn’t have much time to celebrate.

After winning its second state title in a row, the Trojans had about an hour before making the trip over to Aloha Stadium for the school’s OIA football championship game against Kahuku.

Regardless, coach Renesha Kierstedt reflected on her team’s first performance of the day.

“They were outstanding. It’s been a rough year, they’ve gone through a lot,” she said. “They earned it, they put it on the mat and it’s all them. I just sit here to support them and yell at them. I love them to death.

“We have a hard competition. Hawaii has the best cheerleaders in the world. To win it back-to-back, it is an outstanding feeling, and right now I’m still numb. Again, it’s all the girls.”

Unlike their first-place counterparts in the medium division, Mililani is a team that featured its share of seniors. Finishing with a repeat has been the goal since August.

“Winning two times in a row, being a senior, it felt amazing to finish it with a bang,” Janel Alviar said. “I’m really relieved because we’ve been working really hard and our team has come so far to get to where we are now and this is the best way to end it.”