Cheer teams have to put in a lot of hard work in order to be at their best when they cheer on their team’s at sporting events or when they compete at their own competitions. And while the work is important, so is the team chemistry that they have with each other. Amber Hobgood and Casi Williams have led the Cashion cheer team for the past eight years. And they have worked hard to make sure their squad is together as one off the sideline or mat as much as they are on it.

“We have had a couple bonding events that help with our team bonding,” said Hobgood. “But the most recent one was when they went together as a squad to watch the new Barbie movie. It’s important having them together, and it not be all serious. They communicate very well with each other. They might not be best friends off the mat, field, or court, but they come together when it matters. They are good humans too.”

Senior Reese Williams says that cheerleading gives her the opportunity to be a positive influence on the younger generation.

“I enjoy being able to be a role model to all the little girls looking up to me,” Williams said. “It betters myself and makes me happy to see all those girls smiling, while I do what I love.” Coach Williams says that their team has seen their hard work pay off over the past few years.

“We were the Game Day State Runner-up in 2022 and we were the Competitive State Runner-up in 2021.”

Another senior on the Wildcat’s cheer team is Kaylee Gilliland. She says that she feels like she is part of a special group of people.

“I enjoy the sisterhood that we have,” Kaylee said. “It’s almost like a family where we all support each other and uplift each other.”

Lauren Jenkins, who is also a senior on the squad says that she loves the impact that her team has on the community.

“I enjoy the support from our community and how much it’s grown over the past four years,” she said. “I also enjoy the relationships I make with my team. We truly are a family.”