STATE CENTRAL: Competitive Cheerleading

The 2026 IHSA Competitive Cheerleading State Finals, presented by COUNTRY Financial, are set for Friday and Saturday, February 6-7 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

The 2025-26 school year is the 125th in the IHSA's storied history. Learn more about some of the pivotal athletes, coaches, and moments from the IHSA's first 125 years here.

A schedule, links to important state final info, and a preview can be found below:

---2026 IHSA COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING STATE FINALS---
Friday & Saturday, February 6-7
Grossinger Motors Arena | Bloomington | Directions
Tickets | $12 cash per day (no reentry)
Streaming | NFHS Network
Performance Order | Friday | Saturday
State Final Info
Results | Friday | Saturday
State Final Merchandise | Minerva Promotions
Download/Order State Final Program | PIP Printing
Photos from Visual Image Photography
Visit BN | Info on restaurants, hotels, etc.

---STATE FINAL SCHEDULE---
Friday, February 6
8:00 AM | Doors Open to public
9:00 AM | Class 1A/2A Prelim Performances | Watch
1:15 PM | Class 1A Finalists Announced
1:30 PM | Class 2A Finalists Announced

3:30 PM | Class 3A/Coed Prelim Performances | Watch
7:45 PM | Class 3A Finalists Announced
8:00 PM | Coed Class Finalists Announced

Saturday, February 7
10:00 AM | Doors Open to public
11:00 AM | Class 1A/2A Final Performances | Watch
12:45 PM | Class 1A Awards
1:15 PM | Class 2A Awards

2:00 PM | Class 3A/Coed Final Performances | Watch
4:45 PM | Class 3A Awards
5:15 PM | Coed Class Awards

CLASS 1A
Sectional Champions : Richmond-Burton (94.93); Lexington (92.00); Breese Central (91.53); Vienna (91.53); Reed-Custer (88.90);
Preview: The IHSA's smallest class has only seen one repeat winner in the past eight years, a trend defending state champ Columbia hopes it can buck this weekend. The Eagles know all about title streaks, as they won the class four straight times from 2010-13. Four-time state champion Breese Central topped Columbia in Sectionals on Saturday and will be seeking their ninth trophy this weekend. Richmond-Burton has been the state runner-up the past two seasons and hopes to win its first state championship after posting the top Sectional score in the class. Lexington won its third straight Sectional in 2026, one year after finishing eighth at state, while Reed-Custer enters the weekend with the momentum of its second straight Sectional crown. Vienna was one of the top stories in the state at Sectionals, as the program won its first Sectional since 2007, which was also the last time the school qualified for state. Byron (90.70) and Johnsburg (90.53), the latter of whom has won three state trophies since 2022, both eclipsed 90 points at Sectionals and could be major factors in the standings this weekend.

CLASS 2A
Sectional Champions : Providence Catholic (96.37); Crystal Lake Central (95.93); Lemont (95.93); Grayslake Central (93.45); Triad (93.33)
Preview: Two-time defending state champ Lemont hopes to maintain its remarkable reign atop the Class 2A standings, as the program now owns eights state titles and 16 total state trophies. After finishing second in the state a year ago, Providence Catholic posted the top Sectional score in 2A and hopes to capture the school's first state title since 2013. Grayslake Central earned its second-ever trophy and first since winning the title in 2019, when the Rams placed third in 2025. Crystal Lake Central won state in 2022 and placed third in 2024, so if the even year trend continues, the Tigers could be in for a big weekend. Triad won its first Sectional title since 2017 and now hopes to get back to the podium for the first time since 2008. Cary-Grove posted an impressive Sectional score (95.07) and could vie for its first trophy in program history with a repeat performance. Oak Forest (94.72) didn't hoist a Sectional title, but history shows you can't count the Bengals out, as Oak Forest didn't win its Sectional in 2023 when it went on to win its third state title in school history. Highland (92.00) won the Coed Class state championship in 2022 and hopes to win its first 2A trophy since 2014. Burlington Central (93.70) is just two years removed from a second-place finish, while Joliet Catholic Academy (93.67) is another program to keep an eye on.

CLASS 3A
Sectional Champions : Dundee-Crown (96.43); Sandburg (96.03); Schaumburg (95.50); Lincoln-Way East (95.47); Lockport (94.70)
Preview: After finishing second four times from 2013 to 2022, Marist is now the two-time defending state champions and will be back to defend its title after placing second at Sectionals. Three-time state champ Sandburg topped Marist (94.20) in Sectionals on Saturday, marking the program's first Sectional title since 2023. Since 2014, Lincoln-Way East has captured seven state championships and will vie for its eighth this weekend. Lockport owns 13 state trophies of its own, including four state titles, and enters the finals on the heels of winning its fourth consecutive Sectional championship. Dundee-Crown and Schaumburg are emerging as two of the state's top programs. Dundee-Crown qualified for the state finals for the first time in 2023, won its first Sectional in 2024, and brought home its first trophy after placing third in the Coed Class a year ago. Meanwhile, Schaumburg earned its first trophy in school history in 2025 when the Saxons finished second. Other top Sectional performers who could be poised to move into contention this weekend include two-time trophy winner Edwardsville (94.77), 2015 state champ Hampshire (94.60), an Andrew (94.17) squad who has qualified for state five straight times, and a St. Charles East (94.03) team looking for its first Top 10 finish since 2017.

COED CLASS
Sectional Champions : Belvidere North (96.67); Hersey (94.90); Stevenson (94.12); St. Charles North (93.67); Shepard (93.15)
Preview: Belvidere North has won eight trophies in the Coed Class since 2016, including their fourth state championship in 2025. The Blue Thunder three-peated from 2017-2019 and hope they are in the midst of another championship streak. Stevenson just missed a trophy last year when the team finished fourth, as the Patriots vie to return to podium for the first time since 2020. Hersey enters the weekend with the momentum of the program's first-ever Sectional crown, one year after recording a seventh-place finish at state. The Huskies topped 2025 state runner-up Buffalo Grove (93.10) in Sectional action, but you can't ever count out the Bison, who have won four state titles since 2013. Shepard won its first Sectional since 2023 on Saturday and now seek hope to break their previous best state final finish of sixth-place in 2021 and 2024. Fellow Sectional champion St. Charles North owns back-to-back Top 10 finishes (8^th in 2025, 10^th in 2024) as the North Stars seek their first trophy ever in the sport. Conant (95.83) pushed the defending champs in Sectional action and will be a contender for the program's eighth trophy this weekend. Wheaton North (93.68) and Elk Grove Village (93.00) are two other programs to keep an eye on. The Falcons are in search of their first-ever state trophy, while the resurgent Grenadiers seek to finish on the podium for the first time since 2010.