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Posts Tagged ‘Cheer’

Elizabeth Bishop out for as drive with one of her 4-H animals.

Elizabeth Bishop, out for a drive with some of her 4-H animals.

Elizabeth Bishop

In the gym as a cheerleader.

Cows or cheers, Elizabeth Bishop is your woman.

The Coupeville High School senior has worked the sidelines at football and basketball games for years, having started in junior cheer during her elementary school days.

It’s a sport she’s stayed loyal to through all four years as a Wolf, and she’s currently one of five girls carrying the torch for CHS cheer this winter.

“I enjoy cheering on the team, whether it be football or basketball,” Bishop said. “Also, I enjoy how the cheer team feels like a family.”

While Coupeville school officials designate cheer as an activity and not a sport, Bishop is firmly on the side of those who think that’s a bit short-sighted.

“I would tell them cheer is just as much a sport as any other sport,” she said. “I don’t see other sports teams like football or basketball doing stunts and lifting a team member up in a stunt formation.”

Away from the cheer life, Bishop, who is also in the National Honor Society, is equally adept in the world of livestock.

Hailing from a Central Whidbey family with a long farming tradition, she grew up around animals and has been very successful raising and showing them.

“My primary interests are my animals and 4-H, where is where my extra time goes,” Bishop said.

She enjoys her English and weight training classes and draw much of her inspiration from a very close family member.

“My mom has made a huge impact on my life,” Bishop said. “She’s always has been my personal cheerleader all through life, to help make me the person I am.”

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Cassidy Rydell

Cassidy Rydell

Cassidy Rydell has never stopped dancing, she’s just picked up a new style.

The Coupeville High School senior, a 13-year veteran of the world of ballet, has brought her dance moves into the world of cheerleading this year.

As a first-time member of the Wolf cheer squad, which is coached by former Seattle Sonics dancer Cheridan Eck, she’s been able to keep her love of dance going, even if she’s no longer wearing toe shoes.

“I wanted to keep doing something similar and cheer happened to be exactly what I was looking for,” Rydell said. “Being a former dancer, I love it when we have routines that involve any type of dancing; whenever we learn something new it creates a new challenge.”

And while CHS officials still want to call cheer an activity and not a sport, Rydell knows first-hand the sweat, blood and tears that go into being ready to perform.

“Try being able to do the splits and kick sky high,” she said. “Can the football players do it? No.

“It’s the same when people say that dancing isn’t a sport,” Rydell added. “They obviously haven’t seen the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.”

As she plans her future, she has goals of competing in track for the Wolves this spring and majoring in Communications in college.

Rydell is a member of the National Honor Society and picks English as her favorite class.

While she’s skilled in the classroom, her talents stretch out far beyond taking tests.

“I play piano and I love it!,” Rydell said. “I also enjoy singing, writing and, of course, dancing.”

Music is a huge part of her life, whether it’s her own performances or listening to her favorite bands, which include “my two all-time favorite bands at the moment, Owl City and OneRepublic.”

Through everything, she counts a close family member as her biggest fan and confidant, knowing that she’ll always be there to support her in whatever endeavors she picks up.

“My mom has had a HUGE impact on my life, she is the main reason I am who I am today,” Rydell said. “She is my best friend and I can tell her everything!”

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Jovanah Foote (John Fisken photos)

Jovanah Foote leads us off. (John Fisken photos)

Ciera St Onge

Ciera St Onge

Camilla Rische

Camilla Rische

Cassidy Rydell

Cassidy Rydell

Elizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth Bishop

CHS cheer coach Cheridan Eck

CHS cheer coach Cheridan Eck

Their numbers are down, but their enthusiasm is always up.

The move inside from the football gridiron to the basketball hardwood has shrunk the Coupeville High School cheer squad from the 20’s to a still very-committed six girls.

Whatever they lack in numbers is made up for in their ability to light up the crowd through their yells and dance moves.

Next time you’re at a Wolf basketball game, take a moment to give them a hand.

P.S. — Payton Wilson was not there the day these photos were taken, which is why she’s missing from our lineup. She gets equal props, if no photo.

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Cheridan Eck

Cheridan Eck

Cheer for Cheridan, cause she’d cheer for you.

Today marks the birthday of one of the peppiest people on the face of the Earth, CHS cheer coach Cheridan Eck.

A former Seattle Sonics dancer who has brought her love of dance to the high school athletic scene, she is one of the brightest, most personable people you’ll ever meet.

Whether working with her high school girls or teaching cheer to future generations of Wolves when the elementary school kids get their taste of pom poms and routines each season, she is the Energizer Rabbit come to life.

And, even when you think she’s standing still for a moment, she’s not.

During performances she silently mimics every move and cheer, pulling them off (of course) flawlessly.

After 20 years of the original Energizer Rabbit, legendary CHS cheer coach Sylvia Arnold, anyone following in her footsteps would have a tough job.

From all signs, it appears Cheridan is pulling it off the same way she does everything — with grace, good cheer, boundless energy and a willingness to outwork and out-hustle at all times.

Coupeville is lucky to have her, our very own bright shining star lighting up the universe around her every step of the way.

Happy birthday, Cheridan.

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Junior Jazmine Franklin won the Wolf Award. (John Fisken photos)

Junior Jazmine Franklin won the Wolf Award. (John Fisken photos)

The 2014 fall CHS cheer squad.

The 2014 fall CHS cheer squad.

Sophomore Robin Cedillo took home the Coaches Award.

Sophomore Robin Cedillo took home the Coaches Award.

If you heard a lot of noise in Coupeville Wednesday night, no need to worry.

It was probably just the celebration as the CHS cheer squad closed out its fall season with an awards banquet. Loud ‘n proud, to the end.

And there was plenty of joy to be spread around, as ten different cheerleaders pocketed at least one award to cap Cheridan Eck’s first season as Wolf coach.

Seniors Destiny Bitting and Kylie Burdge shared Captain honors, while the duo and Brittani Wilkinson all took home four-year awards for staying true to the sport from their freshman year to the end of their high school careers.

Jazmine Franklin nabbed the Wolf Award while Maddy Neitzel and Katie Lovell earned Most Improved.

Camilla Rische collected the Spirit Award, Robin Cedillo notched the Coaches Award, Kiara Burdge was tabbed Most Inspirational and Ayanna Jeter won Rookie of the Season.

Natasha White was honored for her work as the Wolf mascot, while all 22 Coupeville cheerleaders earned varsity letters.

The CHS cheer squad:

Jessica Bester
Destiny Bitting
Kiara Burdge
Kylie Burdge
Bella Cedillo
Robin Cedillo
Allison Dickson
Lainey Dickson
Amanda Foley
Jovanah Foote
Jazmine Franklin
Sylvia Hurlburt
Ayanna Jeter
Katie Lovell
Ashlyn Miller
Maddy Neitzel
Camilla Rische
Cassidy Rydell
Julianne Sem
Ciera St Onge
Brittani Wilkinson
Payton Wilson

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