Lakes Region Legends cheer team places 3rd at national competition

LACONIA — It’s not so easy to stick a gymnastics move directly after a pyramid stunt, but a new athletics-forward cheer team in the Lakes Region is focused on the basics, to strengthen athletes in more ways than one.

The approach is working, as the Lakes Region Legends Pop Warner Cheer Mitey Mites, ages 7 through 10, took home third place in a second-chance national competition in North Carolina last year.

“Once they called our names for third place, we were really in shock,” said Olivia McCarthy, vice president of the Lakes Region Cheer Association and coach of the Mitey Mites squad. “We were thrilled to be able to take two trophies to New Hampshire.”

Alongside the Lakes Region Pop Warner Cheer Mitey Mites, the Junior Pee Wees took home a second-place trophy from the Queen City Competition.

It’s just the start of what the league hopes to accomplish

“As a first-year team, with half the girls [being] first time cheerleaders, this is an amazing accomplishment for our community,” McCarthy said.

A new program

McCarthy knew it was time to do things differently. After a few years of participating in other local cheer squads, she wanted her daughter to improve her athletics, not just participate for fun.

Together with Alexus Musumarra, McCarthy set out to form a new league. In May 2025, Lakes Region Pop Warner was founded — and athletes flocked to join.

“Our first year, we ended up with 30 girls and three teams. It was very overwhelming, because it was Pop Warner and a new ballgame for us,” McCarthy said in a December phone interview. “We’re still learning as we go. It’s been a whirlwind year.”

And the athletes did improve over the season, said McCarthy. The squad started the season with a simple full stunt, and improved to a one-legged liberty stunt, an impressive feat for the age range.

“We started with a simple routine. Honestly, after every single competition, we tweaked our stunts and tumbling to get the highest points possible,” she said.

With gold glitter, black sparkly bows, hot pink flair and sky-high hair buns, the Legends bring zeal to the mat, full of enthusiasm and pride for their routine.

A passion project

The 30-member squad had no equipment, practice space, competition list or real structure at first — but McCarthy and Musumarra kept persevering.

Before long, the pair garnered several sponsors, who helped the team purchase safety mats. The Lakes Region Boys & Girls Club hosts practices at night thanks to their rentable space, and travel is made possible by the sponsors.

“There’s a lot of community involvement,” McCarthy said, who also said the athletes held car washes over the summer to help fund their travel.

In the Celebrate Laconia holiday parade last year, the Legends took home best float thanks to their vibrant pops of color and fun energy.

Today, the Legends association is made up of three teams: the Mitey Mites, the Junior Pee Wees and the Varsity team, with athletes assigned based on their age. There’s also the Inspiration Division for athletes with special needs, aged 5 to 18.

Athletes from all over the Lakes Region, including Laconia, Belmont, Franklin, Gilford, Meredith, Northfield, Tilton and Sanbornton, are encouraged to join.

Foundation clinics, like strength and conditioning, will begin this month. Sign-ups for the 2026 season start in February. For more information, visit facebook.com/LakesRegionCheer.

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Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.