Western Carolina and head cheerleading coach Kim Cherry-Beck recently announced the 2009-10 Catamount cheer squad.
One of the largest squads in recent history, the 26-member squad has representation from four states including 23 from North Carolina and one apiece from Georgia, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
“I have been a part of Western Carolina cheer try-outs since 1997 and this year brought in the most talent I can remember,” said Cherry-Beck, who was a Catamount cheerleader from 1997-2001. “So many people have worked extremely hard to build this program and our numbers have increased significantly which we feel will help us add to the game day atmosphere in Cullowhee.”
In addition to providing school spirit to campus and additional game day atmosphere, the squad will travel to select road football games and the conference tournament in basketball. WCU’s cheerleaders are also heavily involved in community service projects around the region.
Senior Ashley Morgan of Sylva has been named team captain for the upcoming season which will run through both football and basketball seasons. She is among the 12 upper classmen that includes six seniors to counterbalance the 11 freshmen and three sophomores on the 2009-10 squad.
“We are returning a strong senior class that will provide great leadership and guidance for our big incoming group,” Cherry-Beck said.
The squad held its first summer clinic on-campus in Cullowhee back on June 26-28, and plans on a second clinic on August 6-7 in preparation for the National Cheer Association (NCA) College Camp in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on August 9-12.
“Our first clinic went extremely well and was a great start for this group. I am looking forward to getting a lot of work done with the squad the first part of August and hope to carry that over to a successful camp in Myrtle Beach just before school starts. We can’t wait for kickoff this fall,” added Cherry-Beck.
Cherry-Beck is entering her sixth season as the WCU Cheer head coach, with former teammate and WCU alum Eddie Wells again serving as the squad’s assistant coach for a sixth-consecutive year.
