Based in western Frederick County, Linganore High School has always been home to some of the state’s top sports programs. Though they are known for their powerhouse football program and playoff-bound basketball teams, the Lancers’ most consistently dominant program is one that most do not expect – Cheerleading. Head coach Amy Rumburg and assistant coach Jean Davis have been running the program together since 2017. “I have been coaching here since 2016, starting as the JV coach, then taking over the program in 2017,” Coach Amy explained. In the fall of 2017, Linganore took home Maryland’s top spot in the 3A/4A classification. Since then, their dominance has not faltered. For nine consecutive seasons, dating back to the winter of 2020, excluding the fall of 2020 and the winter of 2021 when no teams competed due to COVID-19, Linganore has won every regional competition. Coach Jean credits the continued success to the “consistency that starts from the bottom up. We try to stay very consistent from youth to JV to varsity, all the way through.” Last fall, Linganore had fourteen athletes competing in the state championship competition, where they won first place, but in the Winter of 2025, the team had to compete with just nine cheerleaders on the mat. Coach Amy explained that the drop was because they “don’t allow all-star and high school competitions in the winter,” meaning that cheerleaders cannot compete for their private club and the school simultaneously. While the adjustment to a smaller team took time, rising senior Anelise Herdman believes that “it ended up being a positive experience because [the team] needed to learn how to make changes.” While the team placed second in the state, Anelise was still proud of the team’s perseverance through the difficulty. Going into this fall’s season, the team is unsure of the classification where they’ll compete, but Coach Amy explained that the entire team is beginning the season with the mindset that “we are competing against everyone in the state of Maryland.” The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Cheerleading Committee, MPSSCC, will not be assigning classifications until it is determined which teams will be competing. Reflecting on her last decade at Linganore, Coach Jean described her love of the entire community, highlighting the energy and the sense of togetherness in every event. Rising senior Dani Beall is also thankful for the moments off the mat. “The bus rides to games, competitions, pep rallies, and the stuff we do in the community that strengthens our team bonds,” she explained. In the midst of hosting Linganore’s K-8 cheerleading summer camp, Dani wants to remind all aspiring cheerleaders that “there’s going to be hard days, there’s going to be hard practices, and there’s going to be losses, but just keep pushing because it is worth it.” Additionally, Anelise encourages everyone not to give up on their goals if it is difficult, but rather to continue to work on them, no matter how hard it is. After five years of regional dominance, Linganore’s cheerleaders are doing more than defending a reputation; they’re building a legacy. As Dani and Anelise prepare for their final seasons as Lancers, they will take home the trophies, but they will never forget the lessons in resilience, leadership, and teamwork. Coaches Amy and Jean have no intention of slowing down, but they cannot wait to get back to Harford Community College and reclaim their crown. I’d like to thank Coach Amy Rumburg, Coach Jean Davis, and Cheerleaders Anelise Herdman and Dani Beall for participating in an in-person interview. If you are interested in watching the full interview, it will be posted on our social media platforms in the coming weeks.