Harrison Central cheerleaders earn fair championships, prepare for competition season

While some sports are just beginning, the Harrison Central cheerleaders are already bringing home titles.

Just last week at the Jefferson County Fair, the Lady Huskies earned a non-tumble championship trophy as well as a first place “Best Jumps” award. The group works all summer to achieve these titles.

The cheerleaders recently attended UCA Camp at Lake High School with Division I schools like Lake and Dover, each with squads of 24 or more cheerleaders. “We only have six girls on varsity so for us to win some awards was really exciting,” said Coach Karli Ray. The Huskies will return to Lake High School for competition in November.

“We have a really young team. We have two freshmen on the varsity team. We have two seniors (Kamari West and Alexa DeWees). They are two great kids,” said Ray. The Huskies lost nine seniors to graduation: Kira Birney, Roni Banks, Kennedy Skinner, Shyloh Utter, Madison Angle, Arianna Doren and Mackenzie Garabrandt.

As the football season quickly approaches, the upperclassmen will be taking on the responsibility of the biddy league cheerleaders as in previous years. However, this year the biddy league will be competing. “This is our first year of doing that (competing). As the girls signed up, anyone wishing to participate (in competition) could sign up to do that. We will be at the Scio Street Fair and then the season starts, and it just rolls from there nonstop until February,” Ray said.

The Huskies will host two competitions this year. After putting in a bid to host the East District competition, they were awarded that bid.

The first competition, East District competition, will be held by the Cheerleading Coaches Association Dec. 7 and then competition will be in January. They are also competing at UCA regionals and will try for a bid to get to the Nationals in Florida. "We will take our game day team there," Ray said. "That will be the end of October.”

Ray is assisted by Bailie Ray. Audrey Zanath will lead the junior varsity team. Riley Stewart will continue to lead junior high.

Junior high cheerleaders are Kinsley Carter, Juliona Famal, Lynden Myers, Ava Pitner, Keyanna Robinson, Neveah Singner, Taelana Smith, Shelby Taylor and Ana Zarkovic.

JV football cheerleaders are Shaylen Bethel, Hallie Blake, Shianne Blake, Ashlynee Corder, Alessa Dorn, Haylee Kelley, Adriona Famal, Bristol Moore, Katie Summers, Chloe Thompson and Gia White.

Varsity football cheerleaders are Lilly Yarish, Phoebe Goffoli, Halli Montgomery, Maddilynn Fellows, Kamari West and Alexa DeWees.