Meet the 2015-2016 Golden Eagle Cheerleaders
The 2015-2016 Tyrone Varsity Cheerleading Squad
You’ve seen them on the sidelines of football and basketball games and mat-side at wrestling matches, the Tyrone Varsity Cheerleading squad is back and better than ever. Here’s a sneak peak into the backgrounds of these dedicated ladies and gentleman.
Captains (also seniors)
Kendra Walker
How many years have you been cheering?
This will be my fourth of year of cheerleading.
What is your favorite memory?
Either winning best team at cheer camp or parading through town and screaming out the windows after we won Districts.
What are your goals this year?
To be an inspiration to the little girls in the stands and to make my last year a year to remember.
Harley Walters
How many years have you been cheering?
This year makes ten years.
What is your favorite memory?
When we sing on the bus and when we spend the day together getting ready for “Meet the Eagles.”
What are your goals this year?
To bring everyone closer as a team and be the best leader I can be.
Seniors
Sawyer Crawford
How many years have you been cheering?
This will be my ninth year.
What is your favorite memory?
Our dorm rooms at Penn State Camp after we got done with practice.
What are your goals this year?
To actually get first at a competition against another team.
Beth Hunter
How many years have you been cheering?
I’ve been cheering for twelve years.
What is your favorite memory?
Probably competing my first year of varsity.
What are your goals this year?
To win a lot at competitions.
Hannah Nimitz
How many years have you been cheering?
I’ve been cheering for two years now.
What is your favorite memory?
Cheer camp this past year and going to our first competition with the team last year.
What are your goals this year?
Attending all of the competitions with my team as a team, and being able to create long lasting friendships with everyone.
Skylar Rudasill
How many years have you been cheering?
This year makes my eighth year.
What is your favorite memory?
Dancing in the hallways at cheer camp.
What are your goals this year?
To inspire cheerleaders and learn more stunts.
Juniors
Azia Barnett
How many years have you been cheering?
This is my tenth year.
What is your favorite memory?
You make so many memories that it’s hard to pick, but one of my favorite memories is being brought up from junior high in eighth grade and having the opportunity to compete with my sister her senior year.
What are your goals this year?
To work hard and strive for number one at our competitions.
Taylor Dixon
How many years have you been cheering?
This year will be ten years.
What is your favorite memory?
Competing with Varsity my eighth grade year.
What are your goals this year?
Doing our best at competitions, and just having fun when we are cheering.
Haley Durbin
How many years have you been cheering?
I’ve been cheering for ten years.
What is your favorite memory?
When we won the best team award at PSU camp.
What are your goals this year?
To work better as a team and win at competitions.
Cassie Friday
How many years have you been cheering?
This year will be five years.
What is your favorite memory?
My favorite memory would have to be cheering at Districts last year.
What are your goals this year?
Winning first place at a big competition.
Makayla Ritchey
How many years have you been cheering?
This is my 3rd year.
What is your favorite memory?
Throwing up my first stunt in cheerleading as a back.
What are your goals this year?
To get my one man on my own.
Makenzie Stauffer
How many years have you been cheering?
I’ve been cheering on and off for about five years.
What is your favorite memory?
Telling embarrassing/funny stories while waiting for the bus after PSU camp.
What are your goals this year?
To win a competition and work better as a team.
Sophomore
Laura Gunter
How many years have you been cheering?
This is my first year.
What is your favorite memory?
When we snuck into other people’s dorms at cheer camp.
What are your goals this year?
To become a better flyer and make more memories.
Freshmen
Arian Hicks
How many years have you been cheering?
All together I’ve cheered eight years.
What is your favorite memory?
Seeing the smiles of our squad when we accomplish something that we thought was impossible.
What are your goals this year?
To get a 4.0 GPA and get closer with the girls on the squad.
Jayde LaRosa
How many years have you been cheering?
This would be my third year.
What is your favorite memory?
Going to PSU Cheer Camp.
What are your goals this year?
To be able to learn more stunts and become a better flyer.
Mya Romano
How many years have you been cheering?
I’ve been cheering for three years.
What is your favorite memory?
Sleepwalking at camp in Jr. High.
What are your goals this year?
To get better at stunting.
Coaches
Left to right: Erin Bonsell, Cris Hunter, Kera Patton
Coach Cris Hunter
What’s your favorite part about coaching?
Helping the members improve their techniques, giving them opportunities to learn new material, and guiding them to be a strong, positive individual inside and outside of cheerleading.
What are your goals for this year?
To show off our skills at games and in our competition routine, and to attend as many competitions as possible.
Coach Kera Patton
What’s your favorite part about coaching?
Seeing the feeling of accomplishment on their faces when they hit a new stunt or put on a great performance. It feels good to know that I had a little to do with that.
What are your goals for this year?
To perform to the best of their ability, grow, and learn new things, to grow as people and be role models to aspiring cheerleaders, and of course have fun in the process. We have a lot of competitions on our schedule this year and I’m excited about getting started with those.
Coach Erin Bonsell
What’s your favorite part about coaching?
Getting to know all the cheerleaders, earning their respect and trust so we can build on being a team. My favorite thing is when the squad tries a difficult stunt and nails it or a basket toss that goes really high. The look of accomplishment and pride is the best part about coaching. People don’t put cheerleading in the same category as other sports but cheerleaders work hard, get banged up, and feel victory and defeat. Plus..They have to make it look easy in a short skirt!
What are your goals for this year?
To support the team for competitions and give positive feedback to make the team better. Also, we are growing as a program as evidenced by a new JV squad and my goal for them is to build confidence, skill, and unite this new team.
The Eagle
Tyrone’s fierce eagle mascot is new to the sidelines, but he’s ready to shake his tail feather.
Eagle Mascot Griffin Gant
Why did you decide to be the eagle?
I’ve always wanted to be a mascot. I used to sit and watch them. They’re crazy like me so I figured it’d be the perfect job for me.
What are you looking forward to the most?
Running around, acting crazy, and hanging out with the fans.
Be sure to listen for these school spirit kingpins at the next school event!
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