Challenger

This year the Apollo cheerleading squad is somewhat different than the years past. This year there is thirteen freshmen and one new junior. In the past there has only been like four or five freshman to make the squad, but these girls are just too good I guess.

These awesome young ladies are junior Keyocko McHenry and freshmen Latonya Carter, Allie Kozart, Lauren Ashby, Lauren Carter, Camille Hayden, Kassey Hagan, Abbie Roden, Jacey Stanley, Hayley Whitehead, Anna Taylor, Jill Reese, Rachel McDivitt, and Courtney Fogle.

During the summer these girls were in for a rude awaking. A summer practice for cheerleaders is running, conditioning, running, more conditioning, and then we follow that up with some running. The freshman kept up with the seniors. In past years while running no one was allowed to pass the seniors but this year was a little different. Respect for the freshman has grown on this squad simply because they have stuck with it. Their attitudes towards cheerleading are unbelievable. They would do anything for the team and take hits for the team. There has been many of those this year, but they don’t give up or get mad.

When the cheerleaders went to camp at Vanderbilt University the whole squad got nominated to try out for the All-Star squad. To make the all-star squad you had to do the camp cheer, a sequence of three jumps, and a running tumbling pass. They had to perform these skills in front of the camp. Ten girls made the team and out of those ten four of those were freshman, Rachel McDivitt, Courtney Fogle, Jacey Stanley, and Latonya Carter. Jacey Stanley received an award for being the best over all. For a freshman that is a big accomplishment.