Cheerleading
National High School Cheerleading Championship
USJ’s cheerleading squad finished 10th in the nation in the Medium Varsity Division at the National High School Cheerleading Championship competition. The girls advanced straight to the finals after doing well during the preliminaries. They performed in Disney’s Wide World of Sports ESPN Center in Orlando, Florida. The girls earned a bid to go to national competition after competing in UCA's Tennessee Extreme Regionals at McMinnville in November. The squad came in third place and lost by only five points to two former national champions.
Members of the USJ squad are Seniors Brittney Teel, Courtney Byrd, and Carey Beth Kirkland; Juniors Elizabeth Breeden, Taylor Gaston, Courtney Cape, and Chloe Cantor; Sophomores Jordan Ragon, Olivia Hughes, Chloe Meriwether, Whitney Culbreath, and Brigham Short; and Freshmen Catherine Christie, Caroline Stallings, La'Ciera Bass, Emily Priddy, Lindsay Smith, Margaret Jones, Selena Bright, and Angelica Marks. Coaches are Robert Farmer, Adair Hardegree, and Christie Thomson.
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Varsity Cheerleaders
Pictured, left to right, back row are Courtney Cape, Chloe Cantor, LaCiera Bass, Lindsay Smith, Whitney Culbreath, and Olivia Hughes; third row, Angelica Marks, Emily Priddy, Chloe Meriwether, Margaret Jones, Jordan Ragon, and Selena Bright; second row, Caroline Stallings, Catherine Christie, Brigham Short, Taylor Gaston, and Elizabeth Breeden; and front row, Captains Brittney Teel, Carey Beth Kirkland, and Courtney Byrd.
Coaches: Adair Hardegree and Robert Farmer
Faculty Sponsor: Christie Thomson |
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Middle School cheerleaders
Pictured, left to right, back row are Anna Weaver, Leah Sanders, Mackenzie Cotner, Kelsey Sanders, Laura Harmon, and Allyson Fisher; middle row, Samantha Morgan, Kayce Clifton, Callie Cantrell, Sydney Paris, and Sarah Woodard; and front row, Meredith Maroney, Captain Leah Margaret Strope, Captain Carlee Workman, Claire Jaggers, and Anna Lax.
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2009 Cheerleading Camp
USJ cheerleaders placed second in cheer at the University of Alabama UCA camp. The cheerleaders won first-place ribbons throughout the week of camp. More than 1,000 cheerleaders participated in this camp.
Courtney Byrd, Taylor Gaston and Jordan Ragan, below, were selected All-American Cheerleader and are invited to attend the New Years Day parade in London. This is the second year that Courtney received this honor.
Senior captains – Courtney Byrd, Brittney Teal, and Carrie Beth Kirkland – also are invited to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
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The 2008-2009 varsity cheerleading squad, above, enjoyed a trip to a national competition in Orlando, Florida.
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Courtney Byrd performs in London New Year's Day Parade
USJ senior cheerleader, Courtney Byrd, was one of more than 1,000 high school cheerleaders to perform in the London New Year's Day Parade. Courtney qualified to perform after she was selected as an All American by Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and United Spirit Association (USA).
This is the second year in a row that Courtney has been selected as an All American by UCA. All Americans are selected to try out based on superior skills displayed at a summer cheerleading camp. USJ cheerleaders Taylor Gaston and Jordan Ragan also were selected All-American Cheerleaders and were invited to attend the New Years Day parade in London. Only 12% of all cheerleaders who attend UCS and USA camps earn the chance to participate in the parade.
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