The cheer team sprung into this school year with flying colors after coming back from the Universal Cheer Association camp at the University of Texas in Austin on July 21-25, and not empty handed either. Both JV and varsity squads brought home an impressive amount of awards and recognitions, including the coveted leadership award.

“That’s just the one award that everyone wants because it means that everyone is looking at your team, and that’s the team that they would’ve wanted to be on if they didn’t come with their own team,” senior Rachel White said. “It was really humbling that the whole camp voted on us to be the team that they wanted to be on.”

Varsity and JV both went to camp along with cheer coach Courtney Waldrep, assistant coach Emily Munn, and cheer sponsor Susan Waldrep.  The fact that both squads were going together for the first time was a little nerve-wrecking for everyone.

“We weren’t really sure what to expect because junior varsity has never been to a camp with us,” senior varsity captain Maggie Coleman said. “It’s usually only varsity, but overall it went really well.”

The team won many awards at the UCA camp, including the Game Day Champions award, Extreme Routine, Top Fight Song, Camp Champions in both divisions, Overall Camp Champions for varsity, and the Leadership award. All-American Cheer recognition was given to Coleman, seniors Chasity Jefferson, Ashlee Martin, Autumn Jester and sophomores Lauren Carter, Harli Kilgore and Kierra Douglas.

“I knew that the effort we put into camp that week was enough to beat [the other teams] out,” junior JV captain Chelsea Villanueva said. “I think we did our best, and it shows.”

The team’s hard work paid off and prepared them for this upcoming year, not only in skill, but for working together as a team.

“I think [camp] helped them get along better, and realize that they are one team,” Courtney Waldrep said. “I think they’re more supportive of each other, and I think they all became better friends.”