Highland High School cheerleading team opens season with impressive 1st place finish

The Highland High School varsity cheerleaders are back and ready to compete in the 2021-22 season. They have new uniforms, are competing in a new division, and are ready for a new cheer season this year.

The HHS varsity cheer team competed in their first competition for the 2021-22 season Sunday, Dec. 5, in Mount Vernon. The team earned first place and qualified for the ICCA state championships in Springfield, which takes place at the beginning of January.

Highland is competing this season as a coed cheer squad. This allows 20 athletes to be on the floor for each competition routine.

This year the team has 23 cheerleaders and is coached by Angie Fears and Tess Chlibec. The 2021-22 HHS varsity cheer team consists of six seniors: Morgan Flesch, Rhea Fowler, Mya Iberg, Allison Reiling, Kady Shaw and Brittani Wellen; five juniors: Kyleigh Buchen, Avery Miles, Morgan Friesner, Carolynn Parsons and Riley Mansholt; six sophomores: Ava Allen, Lexie Fears, Ava Lercher, Chloe McTeer, Kara Shaw & Sophia Thomas; and six freshmen: Emma Ethridge, Collin Heldenbrand, Cole Parsons, Avery Starwalt, Rylee Thole and Meagan Wieseman.

The team is looking forward to more first-place finishes this season.

This story was originally published December 6, 2021 at 11:40 AM.