The Lakeland Prep competitive cheer team competed in the UCA Regionals Competition last Saturday (October 31) and came away with a second straight bid to go to Nationals in Orlando, Fl. Lakeland Prep competes in the Junior High Non-Tumbling Division.
According to coaches and parents, the girls have had a challenging season this fall, like all sports teams. According to parent Susan Kee, the girls usually have tryouts in April and begin practicing as a new team immediately. But according to Mrs. Kee, that was not the situation this year. “Due to Covid, tryouts were held virtually during the summer and another in-person tryout once school resumed” Mrs. Kee said. She also indicated that injuries made it tough on the young team but the Lady Lions pulled together and still accomplished one of their big goals of the season. She added, “On Monday, just 5 days before the competition, one of the flyers fell and broke a bone in her elbow, which put her out for the Regionals competition. The routine had to be revamped and the girls pulled together as a team and did an awesome job!”
The Prep cheer coach is Candace Nurse from Memphis Pride cheerleading and the school sponsor coach is Kimber Rahm and assistant school sponsor coach, Mollie Jane Williams.
The UCA National Cheerleading Championship will be held February 5-7, 2021 at Disney World in Orlando, FL.
Below is a list of the cheerleaders, names and grades.
Ella Burnett, 5th
Mana Cordle, 5th
Nora Greene, 5th
Vivian Bomar, 5th
Margaret Jamora, 5th
Reese Borden, 5th
Ainsley Johnston, 6th
Alexa Harmon Harmon, 6th
Emily Acton, 6th
Madeline O’Mara, 6th
Sydney Kee, 6th
Victoria Marcucci, 6th
Emmy Kate Ledsinger, 7th
Kayden Slocum, 7th
Mariah Hardy, 8th
Sophia Sones, 8th
