BATON ROUGE — If cheerleading had a Hall of Fame, the Sapphire squad from Louisiana Cheerforce would already be carving their names into it. This high-flying, high-energy team of 25-30 powerhouse athletes has taken the national cheer scene by storm, going undefeated this season and racking up first-place finishes and Grand Champion titles like confetti after a touchdown.
Their resume reads like a cheerleading dream: first place and Grand Champions at NCA Nationals in Dallas, Cheer Sport in Atlanta, and US Finals in Fort Walton Beach—three of the largest and most competitive events in the nation. At Fort Walton, they hit an astonishing 96.9 score, one of the highest awarded at the event. These young athletes didn’t just show up—they dominated.
“They’re a level two team, but they performed like level ten champions,” says proud cheer dad Jerome Triche, whose daughter Lillian is one of the team’s fearless flyers. “Literally every competition they were at this year, they won first place. And those three—Dallas, Atlanta, Fort Walton—those are the majors. It’s like winning the Super Bowl three times in a row.”
Jerome’s passion is contagious—and so is his pride.
“They won Grand Champion, which is like… the best score. I’m not the perfect articulator of cheer terms,” he admits with a laugh. “But I know they beat everyone. Every performance got better and better. It was unreal.”
The team also showed poise under pressure. At NCA Nationals in Dallas, where chaos broke out due to an alleged fight involving unrelated individuals, the Sapphire squad had already wrapped up their championship-winning routine and were safely en route to the airport. Nothing was going to shake their focus.
“That whole mess went down after we were gone,” Triche said. “These girls stayed locked in and left undefeated. That’s who they are.”
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For Jerome, who once hoped for a son, the pride he carries for his daughter Lillian and the entire team is immeasurable.
“Let me tell you something. I can’t thank God enough for giving me a daughter,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “She’s a flyer, she’s stern, she does what she’s supposed to do. She’s a good kid, a great teammate, and an even better daughter. I love her to death.”
With each win, the Sapphire squad proves they’re not just cheering—they’re making history. If there were any doubts before, let it be known: Louisiana Cheerforce’s Sapphire squad didn’t just sparkle this season—they shined like champions. And according to Jerome Triche?
“They were like Michael Jordan with the Bulls. They just weren’t gonna lose.”
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