Fall preview: Oak Harbor High School cheer

The Oak Harbor High School cheer squad will feature two teams this fall.

The Purple crew includes 16 returning members: Elizabeth Adkins, Kylene Ayer, Chylah Bass, Jade Brown, Rachel Cook, Micaiah Davis, Orenda Doughty, Amanda Fronckowiak, Cassie Gianino, Holly Hernandez, Emily Hoyt, Samantha Orbanosky, Omani Welch, Jillian White, Rebecca White and Ellie Williamson.

Members new to the team include Shene Blanton, Mariah Cazanne, Brittany Danielle, Malaika Owens, Guillermo Quinones, Brittany Rogers, Briana Thrift and Cristey Wolniakowski.

The Gold team returns Ashley Haynes and Kim Smith and welcomes new members Shelby Bailey, Racheal Balasa, Alisha Coe, Katelyn Coker, Aaliyah Contreras, Rhiannon Doney, Stacy Meyer, Molly Murdock and Shannon Wolfe.

Sam Collins will don the Willie the Wildcat costume.

Coach Robin Gohn summed up the two teams’ goals for the fall: “This season we are bringing the ‘spirit’ by vowing to get more student and crowd participation at our sporting events. Each month we have a special event, starting with the Youth Football League cheerleaders participating in our halftime at the first home game on Sept. 10. We are also actively planning our Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Oct. 15 with a lot of pink surprises in hopes of bringing awareness to the Oak Harbor community and raise some money for Change for the Cure.”

Gohn said the team has “hit the ground running” since tryouts in May. Over the summer the squad took part in over a dozen activities, highlighted by a trip to NCA camp at Western Washington University and a clinic for the Youth Football League cheerleaders.

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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