Gibbons, West Broward, Western coaches are Broward Cheer Co-Coaches of the Year
Broward County teams shined at this year’s state competitive cheerleading meet with three teams taking home state championships.
West Broward, Western and Cardinal Gibbons’ triumphs marked the most in one season for the county in three years.
As such, the coaches of those winning teams, Danielle Culbertson (West Broward), Julie St. Thomas (Cardinal Gibbons) and the duo of Carrie Norton and Kristi Warren (Western) are the Miami Herald’s Broward County Competitive Cheerleading Coaches of the Year.
Culbertson oversaw a return to the top for West Broward, which won its seventh state title all-time and first since 2023.
The Bobcats prevailed in the Class 2A Extra Large non-tumbling division led by a core group of seniors. That group was highlighted by Adelaila Cabrera, Camila Fuentes, Nylah Harper, Andrea Lopez, Hailey Sarmiento, and Meadow Scott.
West Broward followed that success by winning a national title in Large Varsity Non-Tumbling DI the following weekend at the 2026 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships (NHSCC) inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista near Orlando.
It was the second national title for the Bobcats.
Meanwhile, Western has become a powerhouse in cheerleading under the leadership of Norton and Warren. The Wildcats won their third consecutive state title and third overall after taking home the title in the Class 2A Small Co-Ed division. Leading the group were five seniors - Johnny Bustamante, Angela Caccavale, Myla Friend, Emily Harris and Jaleah McDougle.
Western then took home runner-up honors in Varsity Coed Non-Tumbling DI at nationals.
It had been a while since Cardinal Gibbons had taken top honors at the podium at state.
Led by St. Thomas, the Chiefs won their second state title and first since 2009 after winning the Class 1A Extra Large Non-tumbling division. Gibbons was led by seniors Gianna Cammarata, Leah Faison, Isabella Gonzalez, Natalia Gonzalez, Mila Panahi and Hayli Wolfe.
A year ago, Gibbons set the foundation for that success by winning a national title. This season, they followed up the win at state by taking runner-up honors at nationals in the same division.
