Starting the year off at the luau and ending it with a sixth-place trophy at nationals, the Highland varsity cheer team had an incredible 2025-26 season.
Varsity cheer competed at Winter Classic, national qualifiers, divisionals, regionals, state, and nationals, along with being the biggest support at every Highland game.
“This is the hardest working team at Highland,” principal Jeremy Chatterton said.
The final applause was given to the team at its showcase on March 12. This year’s showcase featured routines from the whole year, senior spotlights, a partner dance, and a cheer dads’ jump off.
The varsity team led by captains Sofie DeWaal, Lien Hoa Torres, and McKenzie Magee, performed six routines. These included their luau routine, homecoming, freak East, band chant, cannibal, and finally, their award-winning show routine. The JV team performed three routines: “We’re all in this together”, homecoming, and its show routine that placed fourth in nationals.
This year’s show had two amusing acts that included the team’s friends and family.
The partner dance featured selected boys along with the cheerleaders. The boys were taught how to stunt and dance to pull off this heart-warming piece. The boys were thrown in the air and forced to learn quick choreography that was sure to give the audience a laugh.
The second addition to the night was the cheer dads’ jump off. Senior Ames Couper demonstrated jumps for the dads to do and then the cheerleaders judged them. All of the dads stretched their legs and hoped they didn’t pull a muscle before attempting to do a toe touch and win a chocolate bar.
These funny additions represented the spirit of the team and how much love and support fills their worlds. These teams spent early mornings and late nights stunting and tumbling to get ready for every show. All of the time spent together has made the Highland cheer team inseparable.
“You can really find your people, and you know that you can rely on your best friends,” Couper said.
Between almost every routine a senior was highlighted with a heartfelt voice over. All of the speeches commemorated their time on the team and thanked all the people that got them to where they are today.
At the end of the night, each senior came out on the mats with their parents while a younger cheerleader spoke about how much they meant to the team. These speeches prompted tears from teammates, parents, and the athletes themselves.
Performing for the last time and leaving their friends behind will not be easy, but this year’s seniors have big plans ahead and are excited for what the future holds.
“I’m so sad and I wish I didn’t have to leave,” captain Sofie DeWaal said.
