With a newly combined team of JV and Varsity cheerleaders with more years of experience and new plans for the year, the upcoming season looks promising for RHS cheerleaders.

"It's going to be a much, much better season than last year," said cheerleading coach Kelli Richards. Richards hopes that because of changes and improvements, the season will be an impressive one. This squad will be led this year by senior captains Corie Tippett, Sara Rykoskey and Ameisha Blue.

Tippett said, "I think we have a really good crowd with the blackout and the Inferno... our spirit will go with the crowd and it'll be one big spirit-fest." The squad is sure to get the crowd pumped as they always do, but with more stunts, flyers and cheerleaders than last year they are certain to bring even more spirit this year to football games.

The JV and Varsity cheerleaders have about 40 cheers and numerous stunts to learn as a team. In past years, JV and Varsity were split up, but joining the two will give JV cheerleaders an advantage when moving up to varsity. "It's great team building getting the seniors and juniors to know the sophomores and freshmen. They're working together really well," said Richards.

The team welcomes five freshmen, some with abundant experience under their belts. "Their tumbling experience, their cheer experience is absolutely amazing," said Richards. Freshman Nicole Kubasik brings six years of experience on a National All-Star Team. Freshmen flyers, including Kubasik, and one freshmen tumbler have joined the team. The team has a total of 24 cheerleaders with about half returning from last year.

Last year, the Varsity squad placed fourth at competition, two points away from third. With new changes this year, coach Richards and the team hope to do well. "I'm very excited. All of our stunts are perfect and the tumbling is really good. We all know what we're doing," said Rykoskey. Fifteen girls from the squad will be competing in division three Nov. 17.