Senior Kassidy Upchurch is the captain for CHS cheer’s fall season. (Jackie Saia photos)
“I think it is safe to say that the Pack is Back!!!”
As a new school year approaches, Coupeville High School cheer coach Jenne Morrell is sky high as she surveys her roster.
In four years, she’s built the program from eight athletes to 22 who plan to work the sidelines at Wolf football games this fall.
Under Morrell’s leadership, Coupeville cheerleaders comprise a competition squad as well, with that core group aiming for a return to the state championships.
Balancing sideline work with mat work takes deep commitment, something the Wolves embrace. And it all begins with family, said their coach.
“Our team’s strengths are that we work really hard to foster a sense of family on our squad,” Morrell said.
“They did an amazing job polishing their leadership skills at UCA camp this summer and spent nearly 300 hours volunteering in their community.
“The squad does an amazing job of supporting each other in all areas and creates lifelong friendships.”
Pamela Morrell, like her mom, is a cheer lifer.
Morrell and her assistants, Tara Crouch and Anthony Ford, provide the structure, but it’s the cheerleaders themselves who often are front and center.
Having a strong core of veterans helps.
“Our seniors are really stepping up and sharing their leadership, knowledge, and skills as they work with our incoming freshmen,” Morrell said.
“One of the most inspiring things that has happened over the last few years is seeing students from every social group work together closely to accomplish their goals.”
The CHS cheerleaders, from well-seasoned seniors to freshmen making their debut, will also get a chance to work with the next generation.
Coupeville’s Junior Cheer performance is set for Oct. 11, when the Wolves host South Whidbey in The Bucket Game, and the current cheerleaders will be hard at work preparing their younger counterparts.
It’ll be a busy season all around, but one that Morrell and her squad are ready to start.
“We will be working on adding complexity and more challenging stunt sequences to our performances,” Morrell said.
“We hope to see continued growth of our program and our individual skills as we tackle this fall season.
“We would love to get the student section more involved at games to fill the stands with Wolfpack spirit and on the competition side, we’re looking to qualify for state and bring home some new hardware for our trophy case!”
The CHS fall cheer squad:
Cheyanne Atteberry
Garrett Bevill (Mascot)
Abbigail Bond
Alysia Burdge
Miles Gerber
Olivia Hall (Co-Captain)
Makenna Jonker-Chambers (Co-Captain)
Denali Kalwies
Bella Karr
Ember Light
Mila Light
Elizabeth Lo (Manager)
Kayla Moch
Pamela Morrell
Jacob Schooley
Lina Shelly
Nick Shelly
Laken Simpson
Hailey Smith
Kassidy Upchurch (Captain)
Avery Williams-Buchanan (Co-Captain)
Marin Winger
Alysia Burdge, the third Wolf cheerleader in her family, keeps tradition alive.
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Coupeville Sports 