Competion cheer has a new coach who wants the team to grow. Kelly Latham has been cheering for most of her life and brings a positive energy to the team.

Stepping in recently after former coach Sarah Marshall stepped down, Latham decided to take the role with her daughter’s support.

“My daughter is actually on the team,” Latham said. “She wanted me to come help coach and I reached out.”

Most of the squad’s members, including Coach Latham, have been cheering for years. They are open to having new members on the team and keen to teach new lessons to newcomers. 

  “You can just email me, and I can give you all the information you need,”Latham said.  “Just go for it. A lot of people are nervous to try new things. I work with people with no experience and be prepared that it’s a lot more physical than people think.”

Junior Riley Leale is a flyer,

a person who is launched into the air by the other team. Leale trusts her teammates to catch her safely. Most of the team’s cheering routine involves flyers. 

“I get thrown up in the air,” Leale said. “Without the flyers there’s no really showy part of cheer.”

The cheer team puts in work to show off their stunts at pep rallies, games and competitions. Though the sport has its challenges, the cheer team finds excitement in their sport.

“Practices are very challenging and going to competitions and not knowing whether or not you are going to hit is probably the hardest part,” cheerleader Amaya del Carmen said.  “I’m excited for it. It’s my senior year so I feel like this year is the best year.”