Wenatchee Special Olympics cheer team is off to state, hosted at Eastmont High School on the weekend Feb. 28. There are nine total cheerleaders traveling with three coaches on this team and the ages range from 24 years old all the way to 75 years old. Wenatchee High School sophomore student Aubrey Lagadinos is one of three coaches for the special olympic cheer team alongside two other 16 year old girls.

“This season we only had one contest in Moses lake and it was a qualifier for the state competition, we got second place.” Lagadinos said. “A struggle we faced as a team was before our first meet we were informed that the dance routine must be 1:40 seconds at most. Our routine was 2:30 seconds.”

This year’s 2026 special olympics cheer team has had a successful season. This is the first time they have made it to state in their teams history. As the season is wrapping up and the state championship comes near quickly the Wenatchee team practices for an hour once a week, every Monday evening as a team down at the Wenatchee City Hall. The coaches have handpicked the song “Firework” by Katy Perry to use in their special olympics final dance routine. The same song that led them to a second place victory in Moses lake.

“Our team brainstormed what our goal is for the state championship and the cheerleaders came up with to not get last place and to have a good time together.” Lagadinos said.