Einstein Poms Win County Championship for First Time in Over 8 Years

By Cristian Perez

Einstein dominated the Division 3 Poms County Championship, with the team claiming the spirit award and first place for the first time in eight years. 

On Saturday, Feb. 9, Einstein participated in the Montgomery County Poms Divisionals at Blair High School. Coached by Jennifer Hill, the Poms were coming into the invitational off of momentum, placing first at the Northwest invitational on Jan. 17. Einstein was set to have another invitational on Jan. 31 at Springbrook, but was unable to perform due to the snowstorm that cancelled school and events all week long. 

Energy levels leading up to the counties were sky high from the Poms and Einstein community. Einstein Poms performed sections of their routine at Titan basketball games before the competition, bringing energy to the crowd and getting fans eager for the full-length performance at Blair. 

Once the Blair doors opened at 10 a.m., the Einstein students and community rolled in and packed the stands within minutes. Students took over an entire section of the gymnasium, representing a neon color theme with vibrant construction vests, wigs, and tutus. Senior Mikayla Friedman showed immense school spirit, dressed up as neon Albert Einstein. 

Chants were constant from the Einstein section, cheering and standing for every team performing, ultimately being the loudest when their very own Poms started to line up. This led up to the Einstein Poms and their student section to earn the spirit award as a result of their nonstop roaring atmosphere. 

Einstein's first-place routine performed at Blair was choreographed from a mix of senior and sophomore Poms. The beginning drumline section was choreographed by senior captain Diego Ochoa Diaz, the high kicks section was choreographed by seniors Giulla Concepcion and Brynn Wilson, the first jazz section by senior Valerie Merkowitz and senior captain Anna Taft, the second jazz section by sophomores Indira Trovillion and Sarah Arias Forero, and the routine finished up with hip hop choreographed by sophomores Destiny Bey and Maya Garnett. 

No mistakes or points were deducted from the Poms, leading to a clean first-place sweep. 

Coach Hill could only express that the moment was a full circle for the entire season. “For the seniors on the team, I've known them since they were freshmen, so I'm glad to have that full circle moment,” said Coach Hill. “When I was on the poms team, we got first place when I was a dancer, so being able to see first as a dancer and now [as a] coach is a very enlightening experience."

Richard Montgomery Poms placed third, and Northwood poms placed second right behind Einstein. A season to look back at for the Poms, creating the standard for future seasons, and titled as 2025-2026 D3 champions.