Ja’Tarya Hoskins helped lead Coupeville High School back to the world of competitive cheer. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
The Wolves celebrate after performing as a competitive cheer squad for the first time since 2011. (Photos courtesy BreAnna Boon)
Back, l to r: Jaden Marrs, Bella Velasco, Kim Castro, Melia Welling, Marenna Rebischke-Smith. Front: Coral Caveness, Ashleigh Battaglia, Mica Shipley, Ja’Tarya Hoskins, Emily Fiedler.
Back on the blue mats!
The Coupeville High School cheer squad returned to competitive meets for the first time in seven years Saturday, claiming 2nd place in an eight-team division.
The Wolves, led by first-year coach BreAnna Boon, vied in the Small Game Day division in an event held at Bellarmine Prep High School.
There were 32 schools total at the meet, and it was the first time since 2011 that Coupeville has stepped away from being just a sideline cheer squad.
CHS was a competition cheer squad for many years under legendary former coach Sylvia Arnold.
During her 20-year run at the helm of the Wolves program, they won a state title in 2006, while also claiming 2nd at state in 2007 and 4th in 2011.
After making the decision to plunge back into the world of competition cheer, Boon’s squad had just seven practices to get ready.
But the Wolves juggled school, the start of cheering for their school’s basketball teams, holiday breaks, and the increased practices, and never looked back.
Just getting to that first competition was a major step for the cheer program. To do so well once there, is a huge bonus.
“It was a good first time after not competing for so long,” said Wolf captain Ja’Tarya Hoskins. “We will keep working and our second place was only the beginning!”
That’s a sentiment shared by her coach.
“I just have to say the way the kids performed had us all in tears on Saturday,” Boon said. “As a coach, to see your kids being so elated with the work THEY did is such an indescribable feeling.
“We live-streamed it for the parents, and they were crying watching too!,” she added. “The work they have accomplished in seven practices is nothing like I have ever seen before. To say I am proud of them is an understatement.”
Coupeville is set to compete for the second time Dec. 8, and Boon wants to take her team to more events in Jan.
The ultimate goal is to make the state finals, which are Feb. 2 in Battle Ground.
The Wolves will attack that goal, and everything leading up to it, with the same fire and commitment they have shown so far.
“Winners aren’t people who never fail,” said CHS junior Marenna Rebischke-Smith. “But people who never quit.”
For the moment, though, Boon is content to marinate in the moment.
“Most of them have never seen a cheer leading competition before,” she said. “So to go and perform at one, and bring home a second place, really feels like a win for all of us!”
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