Jade McWhorter

Jade McWhorter, a junior at Ravenwood High, has been a cheerleader for football and basketball since her freshman year.  Try-outs for the 2010/11 cheerleaders are at the end of basketball season, in about a month.  Jade hopes not only to make the squad, but also aspires to be one of the captains.  She has cheered on the WoodlandMiddle School team, and with Premier.  Last year the Ravenwood Cheerleaders placed 2nd in state and 1st at the NCA Competition. 

Jade's coach, Jamie Katolick has been a motivating force for herself and the entire Ravenwood Cheerleading Squad.  "She pushes out team to do the best we can.  When I'm not at home, she is like a second mom to me."  Her parents Hope and Chris McWhorter, and brother Joel always come watch her cheer.  Joel is a senior at Ravenwood. 

When Jade is not cheering she enjoys playing Fishville, going to Young Life, Kairos, is active in her high school sorority RGC, and is a member of FCCLA, an interior design and fashion club.  She would like to attend University of Tennessee-Knoxville and study to be an eye doctor, since that is the field her father is in.  Jade also hopes to try out for the University of Tennessee Cheerleading Squad next April.   

Alex Pastina

Alex Pastina has spent her last seven Winters in gymnasiums cheering/scoring for the wrestling teams of Brentwood Middle and Brentwood High schools, but dreams of the beaches of Bermuda, her favorite spot on Earth.  Hopefully Alex was dreaming away this past weekend!  Alex is a Senior, Captain of the Mat Girl Cheering Squad will be scoring at the Regional and State wrestling finals this month. Her most thrilling moment, Alex says, "was going to state in Chattanooga last year and watching the BHS guys wrestle in the finals. There is a lot of excitement at the state tournament!"

Alex has also played with the Brentwood Girls Lacrosse Club, the "BHS Team", since 8th grade where she plays mid-field.  "We have a new coach and a young team this year, but I think if we work really hard and stay focused and positive about the season, the Brentwood Girls Lacrosse Club could do really well this spring."  Alex's Lacrosse season will start right after wrestling ends, but there is practice every day for both.  She is also an editor on the yearbook and a member of the National Honor Society. 

Alex is looking forward to attending either University of Georgia, or Center College where she will major in Education, and hoped to be a Middle School teacher.  What Alex will miss most when she leaves for college is her family, Chris and Denise Pastina, and her brother Luke, a Freshman at BHS.  "We are a super close family, Luke is a great brother and friend."

Brian Kieffer

Ravenwood Wrestling Team is currently seeded first as they head into the Regional and State duals in February.  Brian Keiffer, a senior and one of the team’s most successful competitors, enters the Duals with a record of 28-5 and 18 pins.  He is also third on Bray's rankings list and second on Matman's rankings in the state of Tennessee.  Brian has had a very successful career with the Ravenwood team, but admits wrestling for a college team is not something he is focusing on.

"I kind of want to go with whatever happens, not really worry about much." 

Two people outside of Brian's close family have made his high school years memorable.  Jenny Cleckner is Blake’s Young Life leader and best friend's mom.  Coach Peck is the other influential figure. 

"Coach Peck put in so much extra time with me, and any other kid.  He stays after practice to teach moves and correct things." 

"Momma Cleck" helped instill Brian's passion for Young Life.  He has hardly ever missed a weekly meeting and spent a month last summer at Windy Gap, a Young Life camp, on the Work Crew.  Brian plans to remain very active in the Young Life group at the college he attends, and maybe be a leader.

Something no one knows about Brian is that he carries a Superman lunch box, because Superman carries a Brian Keiffer lunch box.  His twin brother Brad helped him come up with that one.  Jim and Cathy Keiffer have three athletic sons, and have never missed a competition. 

Scott, the oldest by a few years, wrestled his senior year at Ravenwood and played on the State Champion Rugby Team in 2008.  Brad, Brian's twin, also plays on the Rugby Team and will be attending Auburn in the fall.

Blake Thomas

On February 18 at the Williamson County Agriculture Expo Center, Blake Thomas will be competing for the State Title in wrestling.  The Brentwood High senior, also an All-American in wrestling, lost in the state finals last year, although it was voted by the coach’s poll as the best match. 

Blake's current record is 157-23 with 93 career pins and  Intermat Wrestling ranks Blake fifth in the nation.  Blake gained his All-American title at the Asics Junior Freestyle National Duals in Fargo, ND last summer. 

The Regional and State Duals will play a part in the college Blake will be attending.  Blake has a 4.4 GPA, which will admit him into his top choice, DukeUniversity.  Duke does not give out scholarships for wrestling, but he hopes to wrestle on the team and has been recruited by their coach.  University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has also recruited him heavily, and there he has the possibility of getting an athletic, as well as academic scholarship offer.  In April he will decide.

Blake is very active as a Senior Class Representative for the Brentwood High Student Government.  He is also a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, the International Thespian Society, and is a manager of the Brentwood High Volleyball team.

A few words from Brentwood High School Head Wrestling Coach Joe Blair sums it up. 

"Blake is one of the most driven, determined kids I've ever coached.  He's the epitome of what a team captain should be: responsible, assertive, motivating.  He's like having another coach on the team.

“Blake has a very competitive spirit.  He was so close to becoming a state champion last year.  That loss has driven his every action since last February.  Blake is the kind of person that will do what it takes to achieve his goals.  It's something you can't coach, it's just in him.  He will go far in whatever path he chooses in life."