Coupeville Sports

Sophia Jebrail

Making friends in America.

Coupeville High School has an incredibly diverse cheerleader squad.

Sylvia Arnold’s final team boasts almost 40 girls, from seasoned veterans to green rookies. And one wild card.

Continuing a recent tradition, the Wolves have a foreign exchange student on the roster, with Brazilian Sophia Jebrail picking up the pom poms for the first time in her life.

Like Iris Ryckaert and Elena Jimenez Guerra a year ago, Jebrail is experiencing that most American of sports — small town high school football — up close and personal. And while it might be new, she’s loving what she’s seen.

“I have never been a cheerleader before, it’s so nice,” Jebrail said. “What made me decide to be a cheerleader is because in Brazil we don’t have cheerleaders, so that would be a new experience that I would not have another opportunity to be.”

Making the decision easier, her host family includes a fellow Wolf cheerleader in CHS junior Camilla Rische.

At home in Sao Paulo, Brazil (“I live in a city with about a hundred thousand people, a beautiful place called Sao Joao da Boa Vista”) the 17-year-old played volleyball and handball. She’s also considering picking up a new sport in America (“Maybe I’ll play tennis on spring time.”)

The youngest of two girls (her older sister is in college), Jebrail is adjusting to her new home, which was a surprise.

“My family chose me and here I am,” Jebrail said. “In Brazil I live in a bigger city than Oak Harbor, but I like here.

“I think it`s really nice to have the experience to live in a different country with a different culture,” she added. “US is a really nice country to live.”

Jebrail boasts a surprise talent (“I loooove to play video games!”) and mixes school with fun at home (“I like to hang out with friends, go on trips and, of course, go shopping”).

After her year abroad, she intends to return to Brazil and attend college to study business administration.

While she will miss her family and their support (“They encourage me to do everything that will be good for me in the future. Everything that I want to do that’s going to make me happy and help me grow, they will support me”), Jebrail has enjoyed the start of her journey into the unknown.

“It`s nice to live here,” she said. “Before I came I thought that I wouldn’t have many things to do, but I’m having a great time, always have something to do and people here are very kind.”

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Kiara Mercedes

Kiara Mercedes radiates pep and warmth.

Much like older sister Kylie Marie, the Coupeville High School freshman was seemingly born to be a cheerleader, bringing a natural, unforced sunniness to everything she does.

Already an established cheer vet at a young age, Kiara is being reunited with her sister this year as a member of the Wolf squad. The duo previously worked together in junior cheer.

“Kylie has been a big part in the drive behind my cheering,” Kiara said. “If it wasn’t for her I’d sure enjoy cheer, but she helps me focus on being dedicated. She inspires me to work harder.”

And that hard works pays off when CHS rolls out a virtually seamless performance.

“I love the fact that we all work together to become part of a “machine,” Kiara said. “I get to lift others up. We are a family and I just love how that feels.”

Just don’t be one of the non-believers who try to tell her what she does is an “activity” and not a true sport.

The longtime soccer player, who is taking off this season to focus fully on cheer (“Oh! I love soccer! I’ve done it since I was eight … I think this is the first year I haven’t participated in it, but to me it’s worth it”) doesn’t have time for your doubts.

“I don’t think people understand how hard we actually work,” Kiara said. “On TV and in movies cheerleaders are portrayed as these cute, ditzy, half-brained mean girls. Which is completely opposite of our outlook as a team.

“We work for months in advance of the first football game,” she added. “I’d say we work just as hard and as long as every other sport.”

When she’s not hard at work perfecting her stunts, she enjoys the music of One Direction (“It’s kinda corny, but it makes me wanna dance!”), and like her sister and parents, is a proud member of the Mormon faith.

“My sister is a huge part of what I do. Also, my parents and the way they raised me,” Kiara said. “I grew up in the Mormon church, and I absolutely love it! It’s formed me into the person that I am and I wouldn’t want it any other way!

“I go to church, which is an awesome way to spend my Sunday!”

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