Wahkiakum shows spirit at UW Football season opener

Wahkiakum Mule Cheerleaders showed their spirit loud and proud representing the district at the UW Spirit Days, hosted by the University of Washington in Seattle. This took place during the UW vs. Northwestern football game on Saturday, September 21st.

Cheer program participants that attended the Spirit Day event had a dance training session by their hosts, then choreographed their own dance based on the training experience. They performed both dances at the halftime show of the UW vs. Northwestern game in front of a crowd of 70,000 that filled the stands at Husky Stadium. This was the, Big Ten Conference kickoff game presented by Pepsi which honored superheroes during the game.

Wahkiakum had six members of their eleven-member squad represent the team, which included Haileeahna Nielsen, Rylie Willis, Alaina Nakonsky, Ayla Adams, Emily Robinson, and Ester Slovikov. These young ladies trained alongside 550 other cheerleaders from participating schools around Washington, representing around forty other districts. This was the first year the Lady Mules have participated in the training and performance, but it will not be the last.

Coach Kaitlin Kincaid has high aspirations for her team members and has a goal to start participating in cheerleading competitions to take the program to the next level. “It has really grown over the last few years and the cheerleaders are ready to push themselves and grow their individual skills and as a team!” The cheer program focuses on creating a safe, positive environment where the athletes can grow in their sport and help to promote school spirit and unity.

Our Lady Mules Cheer Squad can be seen firing up the crowd at all home and away football games and home basketball games. As they work to unite the Red and Black and promote school spirit, they prepare pep assemblies for the high school and put on an additional Junior Cheer Clinic twice a year. They also participate in both the Bald Eagle Days and Christmas parades in the community.”