With a 22-person varsity roster, Southmoore cheer coach Kieley Barnett knows she has an abundance of talent. Add in the 10 girls on the JV squad and Barnett has a roster that just about every coach throughout the state would envy.
Not only does Barnett have the numbers, but she has the talent as well.
“Our varsity squad members have had several years of experiences with cheer, either on school teams, competitive teams, or both,” she says. “Our JV squad is a dynamic roster, as well, with so much talent. These ladies are constantly working so hard to continue progressing in their skills and strengths as a team.”
That hard work and team spirit is seen in every girl on the squad, but it’s driven by the three captains.
“Maggie Washington and Margaret Mardis have been a part of this varsity cheer team for all four years and are both involved in leadership roles outside of cheer,” Barnett says. “Their dedication for their squad and school is so apparent in everything they do. Talia Guinn is the third senior captain and is the squad’s biggest ‘hype man.’ Talia is the first one to offer words of encouragement to her squad members.”
Barnett says those three girls, and the rest of the squad, take it upon themselves to promote school spirit for each Southmoore event.
“The girls create posters and banners to display around the school to promote school spirit,” she says. “Some of the girls also hold STUCO position which just furthers their passion for school pride.”
While the Southmoore cheerleaders enjoy performing at sporting events, Barnett says it’s the competition that drives this squad to get better.
“The girls love to cheer at games and school events,” she says. “But their passion for competing is definitely a huge part of being a Southmoore cheerleader. Southmoore cheer won the first ever national championship in the school’s history last year. The girls continue to set goals of winning different competitions this year.”
The Southmoore varsity roster includes Talia Guinn (Sr), Jada Higgins (Sr), Margaret Mardis (Sr), Maggie Washington (Sr), Katie Groves (Jr), Brooklyn Hise (Jr), Emma Nguyen (Jr), Rylee Penchanec (Jr), Jaida Brown (So), Abigayle Davey (So), Camden Gallagher (so), Halle Hurt (So), Brooklyn Jackson (So), Ciera Knight (So), Nevaeh Knight (So), Madison Morris (So), Gracen Nowlin (So), Belle Vidal (Soph), Olivia Washington (So), Kinady Willis (So), Cambrey Brandt (Fr), and Tabitha Guinn (Fr).
The Southmoore JV roster includes Abby Goodin (Sr), Kailee Willis (Sr), Kerstyn McCarty (Jr), Francesca Pagan (Jr), Halea OWnes (So), Kacey White (So), Alivia Farley (Fr), Kathryn Randol (Fr), Dallas Reid (Fr), and Brookelynn Ricks (Fr).
