Winter preview: Oak Harbor High School cheer

Winter is a busy time of year for Oak Harbor High School cheer coach Robin Gohn and her teams as they prepare for the competitive season as well as their traditional duties.

Gohn will be guiding 36 members and three squads (competition, varsity and junior varsity) through the next few months. The competition team is made up from members of the varsity.

Back to help the task are three returning varsity members: Jember Jansen, Sadie Strain and Rae Wynne.

Also returning to the program are Elizabeth Adkins, Chylah Bass, Shene Blanton, Jade Brown, Rachel Cook, Brittany Danielle, Micaiah Davis, Mariah Dozhier, Amanda Fronckowiak, Cassie Gianino, Makaila Owens, Briana Thrift, Omani Welch, Jillian White and Rebecca White.

Gohn said the strengths of her squad are the “combined team GPAs, which takes less worry about grade eligibility, their willingness to volunteer their time for community services and their strong teamwork.”

She said the biggest weakness is “not enough time in the day to work on everything we want to work on.”

She added, “As always, safety and academics are the main focus so to make sure everyone works their cheer skills with every safety precaution possible and to always be monitoring (each other’s) grades so they are not overwhelmed with schoolwork, family life, cheer and their ever-important social life.  Beginning with 36 and ending with 36 would be considered a successful season.”

For the first time in “quite a while,” Gohn said, the competitive team will be competing in the small all-girl tumbling division (teams of 12 girls).

Competitions begin Saturday, Dec. 11, at Shelton High School.

Oak Harbor High School Cheer 2010-11

Date Competition Site

Sat., Dec. 11 Shelton Qualifier Shelton High School

Sat., Dec. 18 Eastlake Qualifier Eastlake High School

Sat., Jan. 8 Sequoia Invitational Kentwood High School

Sat., Jan. 15 Harbor Cheerfest Peninsula High School

Sat., Jan. 22 State Comcast Arena Everett

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

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