Ridgeland senior cheerleaders motivated to get to state
After coming up short in their bid to qualify for the state competition last year, the Ridgeland High School competition cheerleading squad is more motivated that ever to earn a bid in Columbus.
“That’s definitely the number one goal, to get to state, and I think it’s possible,” head coach Abby Manus said. “We have six seniors so we have way more experience this year. We also have five girls that have been to state before, so they’ve tasted it and know what it’s like.”
Manus said the team is physical stronger than they were last year and not opposed to working hard when it comes to practice.
“Plus having six seniors helps,” she said of Ashlynn Goodson, Ashton Bethune, Cheyenne Strait, Gracie Holsonback, Nyah Johnson and Shelby Clemons. “Five of our seniors have been here since the beginning, but every time they step on the mat, all of them are ready to work. They’re motivated, not only because most of them have done this together since they were sixth graders, but because they’re seniors now and they want this more than ever.
“They’re motivating and so positive. They bring new things to the table that we need to work on and they’re the leaders that hold us together.”
Goodson, Bethune, Strait, Holsonback and Johnson are this year’s team captains on the varsity competition squad.
The junior class includes Autumn Perry, Courtney Durham, Jaden Allman and Taylor Hartley. Allie Ingle, Jasmine Vidalez, Savannah Kelley and Taylor Ackerman make up the sophomore class, while Makaia Padgett is the lone freshman on the varsity roster.
The junior varsity squad includes sophomores Calissa Morgan, Chelsea Smith, Jaiden Lewis, Kourtney Funderburk and Tessa Craze, and freshmen AbiGrace Tankersley, Alex May, Breyanne Arthur, Graycin Lowrance, Jade Ransom, Kaitlyn Nunley, Laneyah Fairbanks, Leah Shropshire, Megan Ellenburg, Morgan Wimpee, Trinitee Tate and Lana Veal.
“Every routine is different from year to year,” Manus said of this year’s version. “It’s just a matter of executing it and hitting your elements more than
anything else.”
Ridgeland’s season will begin on Oct. 1 at Dawson County and they are scheduled to compete each of the five consecutive Saturdays after that.
“We’ve set up the schedule to where we will see the people that are in our region,” Manus added. “We’re going to Dawson County because that’s where the region (competition) will be (on Nov. 5) and we’re going to other (competitions) to get a look at everyone else and see what they’re doing.”