Harrison Central grad Roni Banks leads youth cheer teams to standout debut

She may be young, but she has already made history in Harrison County.

Roni Banks, a 2025 graduate of Harrison Central, took her first-ever biddy league cheer team to compete at Claymont High School in Dennison Oct. 19. The team earned a second-place finish for the third- and fourth-grade squad and a fifth-place finish for the fifth- and sixth-grade team. The Huskies will compete in a total of five competitions.

Banks’ compassion for children is evident as she has led biddy league cheer for three years while also cheering herself. She leads both the third- and fourth-grade and fifth- and sixth-grade squads.

“My girls have no fear. Absolutely none. They are just happy to be here. They killed it. It is really amazing how well they work with each other and with me. It’s not easy,” Banks said.

Phoebe Goffoli and Shaylen Bethel, high school cheerleaders, assist with the team when they are available. The next contest for the young squad will be at Lake High School.

“I’m so grateful to be able to make a difference and bring cheering to the kids’ lives early, and it’s really going to help out in the long run. They already have so much passion for it. It’s amazing to be a part of the start of that, and I can’t wait to see where it gets them,” Banks said.

Banks is pursuing a degree in education at Ohio University Eastern.

The third- and fourth-grade team members are Mercedes Dulkoski, Parker Hall, Cora Clay, Kiera Renner, Cheyenne Hadden, Magnolia Sullivan and Paislee Anderson.

The fifth- and sixth-grade team members are Aurora Kasarda, MaryBella Rinkes, Sarah Diloreto, Addison Cook, Skylar Gladman, Kenzlee Slone, Phoebe Beetham, Serenity Carmany, Zaydea Zorne, Evelette Slocum, Talia Blackwell and Kenley Mason.