BA, BHS, RHS squads compete in TSSAA championships

By ANDREW SKWARA
For Brentwood Home Page
No high school athletes may be busier than cheerleaders.

On Saturday, Brentwood High and Ravenwood cheerleaders will be competing in the TSSAA championships – their playoffs. Dance teams will also participate in a separate competition.

While football players begin practicing before school even starts – in the stifling Tennessee heat nonetheless – and golfers and girls soccer teams began official competition before taking their first class , consider that cheerleaders were practicing all summer long.

Cheerleading is truly a year-round activity with tryouts often being held in April, followed by summer camps and more practices, which is followed by learning new routines for each Friday night football game. Then, midway through football season they must find time to come up with new cheers for the basketball games.

Here's a look at those who have taken on the demanding task of cheerleading at BHS, RHS and Brentwood Academy:

Brentwood High cheerleaders

Brentwood Academy: Led by second-year coach Erick Kristanson, the Lady Eagles had a superb performance at the National Cheerleading Association camp in Gatlinburg, Tenn., earlier this summer. Both their football and basketball squads earned awards for Game Day Performance, Spirit and the Champion Chant.

In addition to cheering at the games, the Lady Eagles also handle organizing weekly pep rallies and perform new routines each week.

They have a 23-member squad this year led by captain Stormy Rains and co-captain Madeline Dozier, both of whom are seniors. Other members include seniors Blair Perdue, Margo Kaestner, Allie Shelton and Shannon Styles; juniors Libby Billlington, Lauren Brooks, Valerie Griffin, Molly Malone, Tiffany Mangione, Margot Pefanis, Tori Santi, Ali Thrasher and Jamie Wiggins; sophomores Abby Brown, Rachel Chamberlain, Olivia Dickerson, Tatum Hardin, Lexie Harvey and Ann Potter and freshmen Bailey Arthur and Madeline Burkhart.

The Eagles’ team mascot is Kendall Luna.

Brentwood: The Lady Bruins excelled this summer at the Universal Association Elite Cheer camp at the University of Tennessee. All three teams (varsity, junior varsity and freshmen) won first place in the Home Pom Competition and earned 'Superior Squad' designations. They also won the camp championship in their division, and six cheerleaders earned All-American honors including Madeline Bowman, Gina Digiacomo, Blair Ferguson, Ashton Lee, Peyton Lee and Blair Solomon.

Mandy Bitsac is the head coach of the varsity, which consists of 19 cheerleaders. Peyton Lee was selected the captain and Bowman is co-captain. Other members include juniors Haylie Craver, Allison Elliott, Mary Cate Keidel, Jacqueline King, Melissa Petrovich, Raye Pitts, Hayley Stevens and Taylor Tapp; and sophomores Mia Carillo, Chelsey Given, Rachel Hickman, Mackenzie Johnson and Amber Robinson.

Last year, the varsity team was recognized by the TSSAA for academic achievement for having a combined GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The JV squad consists of juniors Madison Clark and Jesse Pyle; sophomores Liz Brannon, Caroline Cate, Kayla Catlett, Sosha Matthews, Maggie McGahren and Vanessa Riggs and freshmen Heidi Alexander, Grace Ann Elliott, Julie Knapp, Caitlin McFarland, Carly Pitts, Abby Timura and Rebecca Zadick.

The freshman squad is made up of Jentry Allender, Kristen Bost, Chandler Butler, Ericka Carini, Griffen Cole, Madeline Gerlach, Abby McLaughlin, Olivia Robbins, Maggie Sparks, Savannah Vessell and Callie Walker.

Ravenwood: Twenty girls were selected for the Lady Raptors varsity squad, which has been taken over by new coach Carlen Groce.

The two captains are Kristen Huskey (No. 46) and Lawren Thompson (No. 57). Other members include Jasmine Archie (33), Peyton Burnham (25), Caley Caldwell (54), Lea Cash (31), Kathryn Ervin (56), Haley Faulkner (49), Hope Faulkner (50), Morgan Heatherly (39), Jordan Hill (42), Morgan Hunter (39), Rainey Massey (51), Morgan Puty (45), Ashley Richey (43), Grace Thacker (35), Katherine Thompson (55), Sydney Schroeder (26), Kendall Stofka (48) and Abby Auinlan (47).

Stephanie Feyes coaches the 14-member junior varsity squad, which also has two captains, sophomore Isabella Davis (32) and freshman Rylie Armstrong (No. 5). The rest of the team is made up of Isabella Gamble (27), Lauren Jackson (28), Ellie Marquardt (7), Kennedy Moore (37), Malcy Pomeroync (1), Brittany Ervin (8), Mackenzie Butera (9), Kaylen Brooke Lanius (13), Savannah Johnson (12), Tolly Stewart (4),Whitney Kirkland (2) and Stephanie Veneklase (3).

Senior Sam Jones took over the team mascot duties.