While most sports have competitions that allow coaches to set clearly defined goals, that’s not the case with cheerleading. For schools like Prague that don’t compete in the OSSAA Cheer competitions, coaches have to set other goals for their squad. For Prague Cheer coach Bryna Anderson, a lot of those goals don’t even involve cheering at all.

“We do a lot of community service,” she says. “We set up for the pep assemblies. My girls help with the little league programs helping with concessions or the little league cheerleaders. They are great at that and help out at most of those games.”

With several girls participating in other activities, Anderson says she’s proud of her squad for showing the flexibility needed to make sure they get their practices in.

“I have many girls that play other sports or are in dance on the competition level,” she says. “They are flexible with our schedule changing constantly. Anytime another organization needs them, they are just willing to get after it. They are very willing to help.”

Anderson has an older squad this year with 13 of the 16 cheerleaders being juniors or seniors. That leadership is something that has been great for Anderson this year.

“We get along well,” she says. “My seniors are great. We have seven seniors, and they are extremely good role models.”

Finally, Anderson says she’s grateful for the parents of her cheerleaders.

“Our parents get after it,” she says. “That’s one thing about Prague Schools, our parents are extremely involved in all of our sports.”

The Prague Cheer squad includes Courtney Brydon (Sr), Madison Dowdy (Sr), Taryn Frank (Sr), Jaylee Friend (Sr), Maddie Ott (Sr), Brooke Stanley (Sr), Alexis Thompson (Sr), Crystal Cook (Jr), Taby Cooper (Jr), Jaleigh McKee (Jr), Hallee Merritt (Jr), Adysen Thompson (Jr), Emma Williams (Jr), Savana Sims (Soph), Alisha Jeevani (Fr), Brianna Roller (Fr), and assistant coach Micah Thorpe.