By Chris Cox

For any first-year head coach, having team leaders willing help build the culture you desire is key. That is no different for first-year Okeene cheer coach Kylie Templin. While her lone senior Nikyla Robinson is without a doubt one of the leaders, Templin says she as a team full of girls willing to lead. “Everyone has taken on responsibilities and helped out in more ways than one,” Templin says. “This is a team full of girls ready to take on responsibilities and they are all constantly involved in planning and organizing practices. We have a team full of leaders this year.”

With just the one senior on the roster, Templin has a young squad, but it is a squad that is full of talent for years to come. “I am super excited to see our freshmen and sophomores grow over the next couple of years,” she says. “They are all very talented and dedicated girls.”

Templin also praised a pair of juniors for their ability to help get the team organized. “We have a couple of girls that have taken on that role this year,” Templin says. “Kaylyn Aldrich has been a blessing by brainstorming ideas and helping with planning and Hannah Nease is our organizer and is a leader as well.”

While Okeene does not compete in OSSAA events, Templin says she has a competitive squad that pushes each other to get better every day. “I do believe that high school cheerleading is competitive even if they do not compete in competitions,” Templin says. “I know that we take pride in our routines, outfits, apparel, physiques, and everything else. We hold ourselves to a very high standard and are very competitive.”

Templin believes that competitiveness and drive to get better helps this squad perform to the best of their ability and create a fun atmosphere at Okeene sporting events. “This squad is a huge factor in the game-day atmosphere for all sports,” Templin says. “This squad makes themes, organizes snack bags, creates school pride, and really pumps up the energy for all sports.”

With a cheer squad like this, Okeene athletic events are bound to exciting events for the whole community to enjoy.

The Okeene Cheer roster includes Nikyla Robinson (Sr), Tiffany Lorenz (Jr), Hannah Nease (Jr), Jentry Biggs (Jr), Kaylyn Aldrich (Jr), Jessica Schieber (Jr), Maddy Munden (So), Ashley Bridwell (So), Zoey Clester (Fr), and Ava Biereg (Fr).