The Keepers of the Spirit - The Wylie Growl

“They have to be brave to lead the crowd” says Alexis Hughes, who alongside Krystal Martin, has coached Wylie’s high school cheer program for the last three years, and while Martin describes Wylie as having one of the “biggest, but more conservative” crowds, it doesn’t change what they are expected to do. “Our goal is to lead the students and community in school spirit,” says Martin.

Varsity Front (L-R): Paige Hughes, Albany McMaster, Sheridan Johnson, Amelia Trahan, and Manager Connie Walker. Center (L-R): Manager Mady Schlauch Cadence Underwood, Morgan Stickney, Avery Cogburn, Kelsie Burleson (Sandi), Sahnti Myles, Kamryn Long, Addison Bayouth, Brooklyn Awtry. Back (L-R): Coach Hughes, Audrey Brown, Skylar Nicholson, Josy Fletcher, Kamryn Johnson, Payton Hill, Reagan Graham, Addalynn Hernandez, Addi Awtry, Karishma Tweedie, and Coach Martin. Not pictured: Jillian Gollihar and Lobo Enduki (Spike).

Across Texas some cheer programs have decreased spirit-related activities to focus on competition, and while Wylie does compete annually at the UIL State Spirit Competition, Hughes says they use competition to strengthen their athletes for cheering at sporting events, pep rallies, and at the collegiate level.

Only established in 2015, the UIL Spirit Competition requires a cheer team to perform a multi-part routine that energizes the crowd and integrates the school fight song and a band chant. Since 2015, Wylie has placed in the top 20, three of the six times they competed with last year earning their highest placing of 13 out of 68 for our division.

Jacy Andrews(2015), who earned 2 national titles in the three years she competed for Texas A&M, cheered for Wylie all through junior high and high school.

As for cheering in college, the coaches say they have seen an increase in their athletes cheering at the next level. Four members from last year committed to cheer at ACU, Tarleton State, Angelo State, and Blinn College. Others from past cheer teams have cheered at Texas Tech, Hendrix College, and Texas A&M’s competition team to name a few.

Recent graduates, Logan Huffington and Sarah Sanchez joined the Universal Cheer Association staff this past summer, coaching at UCA cheer camps across Texas.

Wylie cheer has seen growth across the district in the past 5 years, whether its participants in Pup Squad Camp or at the junior high or high school programs. High school principal Reagan Berry, who used to be the district administrator over the cheer program district-wide, believes the role of cheer and how it’s executed have changed over time.

Junior Varsity Front (L-R): Mayela Silva, Eden Wright. Middle (L-R): Reba Patterson, Daylin Loza-Bamlet, Blakely Garrison, Thereza Enduki, Cambrya Lara. Back L-R: Coach Hughes, Arianna Hoffer, Adyson Williams, Reese Kincaid, Shayne Currie, Lane Adams, and Coach Martin

“Cheerleaders today are not the cheerleaders from even when I was in school. They are athletes that have crafted their gift and that could go win trophies of their own on sheer athleticism and talent,” she said. “The amount of work that our cheerleaders put into each Friday is unbelievable. They plan and lead every pep rally as well as lead the crowd at games, and I think ours do a great job and I’m excited to see them go to work this season.”

East Junior High Front (L-R): Leighton Phillips, Braelyn Bramley, Adrienne Atwood, Tynli Smith, Avery Allen, Shelby Nicholson, Brylee Coffey, Peyton Noble. Back (L-R): Chloe Ashlock, Hadlee Wright, Hadley Null, Whitney Jones, Savanah Fillingim, Taryn Hulcy, Gentry Connor, Malayka Usabayezu, and Alexia Holmes (mascot).

West Junior High Front (L-R): Ellie Seaton, Riley Brozovic, Bayleigh O’Dell, Catelee Loudermilk, Catherine Criswell, Leighton Gibbs, Reese Robinson, and mascot Macy Terry. Back (L-R): Coach Masterson, Abigail Bertrand, Annalise Loudermilk, Mollie Collerick, Allison Stone, Gwen Powell, Hannah Varghese, Reese Cave, Morgan Bearden, Hadley McMaster and Coach Nall.

By Kristen Johnson

Team Photos By Stan West