Varsity, JV, junior high cheer teams set for 2025-26

By Sam Waller

Albany Junior/Senior High selected three cheer squads at tryouts Friday, March 7 with varsity, junior varsity and junior high units determined for the 2025-26 school year.

The program will be under the direction of girls coaches Lauren Peacock and Ashlyn Bevel who are taking over from Nickie Leveridge.

“We had three cheerleaders from Cisco College who were our NCA judges,” Bevel said. “They judged all the girls and sent the results to the front office. The cheer sponsors aren’t involved in the results. The front office gets those results, adds up all the scores and releases a list of names.”

Named to the varsity cheer squad are Mimi Ivy, who was named head cheerleader, Finlee Brown, Hattie Fikes, Charley Flowers, Tatum Grady, Ashlyn Miller, Madi Parrott, and Maddie Stapp.

“We’re excited to have Mimi as our head cheerleader,” Bevel said. “She’s been a cheerleader for Albany since seventh grade and does really well representing the school. She has great character and so much spirit, always has a smile on her face. She’ll do a very good job of taking that role over from Myleigh Leveridge.”

Named to the JV squad were Tara Cauble, Carsyn Clegg, Avery Gleitz, Hailey Gleitz, Kynlee Milligan, and Haiden Niell.

Junior high cheerleaders will be Loralie Balliew, Artie Bell, Harper Hargett, Laramie Oliver, Addisyn Peacock, Paxton Pipes, Karter Thompson, McCamey Vaughn, and Gibson Ware with Hadley Stapp as mascot.

“We have a junior high mascot this year, and that’s new,” Bevel said. “Nobody tried out for high school mascot, but we’re hoping someone will come along some time before football season and step up and say they want to do it.”

Landon Kreitler served as mascot the last two years.