Henthrone and Gross completing cheering careers at Keene State

KEENE, N.H. 2/15/11 – Keene State men’s and women’s basketball teams might be void of any four-year players this season, but that didn’t stop the College from holding a Senior Day celebration on Saturday. 

At halftime of the men’s basketball game against Western Conn., the Keene State cheerleading team recognized its two seniors, Katie Henthorne from Patchogue, N.Y. and Keene native Jessica Gross. Both athletes received flowers and a nice ovation from the crowd.

Henthorne, a four-year team member, and Gross, who has cheered the past three seasons for the Owls, have enjoyed their time with the team.

“I really enjoyed being able to develop a program and competing,” said Henthorne.  “It’s cool when people come up to you and say they really liked your routine.”

“I loved everything about it,” said Gross.  “I like putting together a routine and coming together as a team for that one goal of doing well at a competition.”

While the team doesn’t have captains, Henthorne and Gross have taken a leadership role.  “They do a lot of work behind the scenes,’ said KSC cheerleading coach Linda Lawton.  “They’re instrumental with starting cheers and organizing the team.”

Henthorne and Gross began cheering at a young age.  In addition to cheering for her Patchogue-Medford (N.Y.) High team, Henthorne was a member of two different all-star teams, including the Island Extreme squad that placed 11th at the World Cup competition held at Disneyworld.

Gross started cheering for the Keene Knights Pop Warner football teams and later Keene High School.  She also competed for the Northern Lights all-star cheer club run by Owl coaches Linda and Meghan Lawton. Gross originally attending New Hampshire Tech in Keene, but transferred to KSC so she could team up again with the Lawtons.

In April, both seniors will compete with their Keene State team at the National Cheerleading Association (NCA) Collegiate championship in Daytona, Fla. 

Henthorne, a social science and Gross, a management major, will graduate from Keene State in May.  They both said they will miss cheering for the Owls.