Tomball High School Cheer Earns Incredible Second-Place Finish at UIL State Championships

TOMBALL — Tomball High School Cheer delivered a monumental performance at the UIL Spirit State Championships, earning a second-place finish in the highly competitive 6A Division I category, the strongest level of competition in the State of Texas. The championships were held January 15–17 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Tomball High School posted a final score of 92.20, finishing just behind Katy Taylor High School, which earned the state title with a score of 92.90. Twenty teams from across Texas competed in the 6A Division I division.

Finals at the UIL Spirit State Championships are judged on crowd-leading excellence, with teams evaluated on band chants and fight songs, emphasizing energy, precision, timing, and the ability to engage an audience. Tomball High School’s performance stood out on the state stage, earning the program its highest-ever finish in 6A Division I and tying for the highest overall placement in school history.

Led by Head Coach Steven Weibel, now in his eighth year at Tomball High School, along with Assistant Coaches Jessica Cantrell and Kelli White, the cheer team showcased resilience, unity, and unwavering commitment throughout the season.

“For the athletes, it was pure joy,” said Weibel. “They were ecstatic and over the moon with how they placed. Going into awards, their only hope was to hear our name called in the top ten. When third place was announced, many of them already believed we wouldn’t be called. The moment our name was announced for second place, the tears started flowing. It was overwhelming, in the best way, because they knew exactly what it took to get there.”

Weibel reflected on the moment from the coaching perspective as well.

“For the coaches, it was a rush of every emotion at once—thrill, pride, relief, and gratitude. It was validation of the countless hours spent planning, choreographing, pushing, and believing, even when the road wasn’t smooth,” he said. “Seeing the athletes experience that moment made every challenge along the way worth it.”

For Weibel personally, the achievement carried deep meaning.

“It affirmed that every late night, every early morning, and every moment spent away from family had purpose,” he said. “It confirmed that what we’ve built together as a coaching staff works. The culture of accountability, trust, and relentless effort isn’t just something we talk about—it’s something these athletes live out daily. Finishing second wasn’t just a result; it was proof that this program is built the right way.”

Throughout the season, the team’s mindset evolved, according to Weibel.

“Our chemistry and mindset grew over time,” he said. “We stopped worrying about winning or losing and focused on doing our absolute best and leaving everything on the mat. Once that mindset clicked, the team became united, confident, and proud of how we performed, regardless of the outcome.”

What set this group apart, he added, was their complete buy-in.

“This team practiced what they preached,” Weibel said. “There was no cutting corners—only intentional effort and total commitment. They held themselves and each other accountable, trusted the process, and rose to the moment together.”

With state behind them, Tomball High School Cheer now sets its sights on the national stage.

Next, the program will travel to Orlando, Florida, to compete at the National High School Cheerleading Championship. Both competition teams will represent Tomball High School, Tomball ISD, and the community. Team Red will compete in the Varsity Coed Non-Tumbling Gameday Division against 34 teams from across the nation, while Team White will compete in the Junior Varsity Non-Tumbling Gameday Division against 14 teams nationwide.

“We’re incredibly excited to represent our school, district, and community at the national level,” said Weibel.

Tomball ISD congratulates the Tomball High School Cheer team on this extraordinary achievement and celebrates their continued excellence on both the state and national stage.

ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD empowers students to become impactful, contributing citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous and personally valuable educational experiences while partnering with the community. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 23,000 students across 25 campuses.