As is the case with most athletic teams, cheer teams depend on team chemistry in order to perform at their best. Andi Clayton is in her fourth year as the cheer coach at Quinton High School and this year she added two co-coaches, Brooke McClary and Amanda West. Clayton says that her squad does a great job at bonding and building relationships.
“We try to do a lot of things together as a team,” she said. “For fun we have made a trip to the water park, have lots of team dinners, and bonding time. We love going to Jeff and Craig camps in the summer.”
Avory Gilpatrick, a senior cheerleader, says she enjoys so many things about being a part of the squad.
“I like the environment of all the fans cheering along with us,” Gilpatrick said. “I enjoy how we as a team are all like a family and we can all get along and laugh together.”
This squad has earned it’s share of awards over the past few years. They have been Academic Honor for the last four years, Jeff and Craig camp Champions, they qualified for state in 2018, 2019, 2020, and they have had seven All-Region cheerleaders over the past three years.
Another senior on the team, Chesney Higgins, enjoys that fact that she can impact the future Quinton cheerleaders.
“The most important thing about cheering for me is being a good remodel for the younger kids,” she said. “I also like leading the community in support of our Savages and just having good school spirit.”
Cheering on the football team is something that senior Anniston Needham enjoys most about being a cheerleader.
“I enjoy supporting the football team,” she said. “I feel like cheering them on gives them the motivation they need to play harder.”
Claire Lowmire is a senior on the cheer squad and she says that she is thankful for the teammates that she gets to cheer alongside.
“I loved competing and learning new things I never thought I could do,” Lowmire said. “I couldn’t have done that without my team. We went through a lot together and put in a lot of work together. I love them.”
Getting to do something that she loves is what Ella McBeath, a senior, appreciates most about cheering.
“I love being a part of something I care a lot about and cheering on the boys with my friends at football games.”
