Harrison Central cheerleaders win fair titles, 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 brought home 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 High School and Dover High School, 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,” continued 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 continued.

The Huskies will be hosting 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 and will be held Dec. 7, and then our competition will be in January. We are also competing at UCA regionals and try for a bid to get to the nationals in Florida. We will take our game-day team there. That will be the end of October.

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

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

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