Freshman cheers on undefeated team

Since June of this year, the 2025-2026 season’s freshman cheerleaders have been practicing and pushing themselves to success. As a whole, the Clarkston Cheer community is an uplifting and encouraging environment, from camps to tumbling days, but by themselves, the freshman cheer team is a close-knit group learning how new things work together.

“This is our first freshman cheer team in a very long time! The Clarkston Cheerleading program is growing in numbers and talent! We were so excited to be able to bring it back this year. So far the season is going great! This team came with lots of skill and heart! They are setting and achieving their goals each week,” Freshman and JV Cheer Coach McKenzie Chilcote said. “As the number of cheerleaders continues to grow, so will the program as a whole. Cheer will never be an individual sport; you will always be with or being cheered on by your team. The cheerleaders will never be any stronger than their weakest link, so therefore they have patience and build each other up with time and practice.”

“My favorite part of cheer is the games where we support people, like for the upcoming games, we wear pink and neon bows to support those impacted by breast cancer,” Freshman cheerleader Makenzie Lang said. 

The cheerleaders are not only there to support and cheer on those on the field, but also to show pride for anyone around them, on and off the track. One thing the team supports is breast cancer awareness. On the homecoming game, the 7th, 8th, Freshman, JV, and Varsity teams will wear either pink or neon, typically bows and or shirts.

“Although we do not compete during our sideline season, we have had so many successful moments! This freshman team has cheered the freshman football team on into an undefeated 5-0 season so far!” Chilcote said.

The girls will continue to bring the energy, but as this season and their lives as cheerleaders continue, it will do nothing but get better for them as people and the Clarkston athletic program.