New elementary cheer team is launched for flag football program

photo by Abby Grace Chambers Elementary cheerleaders exercise new cheer skills during their first ever flag football game. Seniors Addie Linak and Elizabeth McWhorter helped coach them

The King’s Academy’s elementary flag football program brings an elementary cheer team alongside it. This new team cheers exclusively at flag football games. With this expansion to cheer will come many opportunities for elementary cheerleaders to grow in their skills early on. 

“For the first time ever, the athletics decided to start a program with flag football, and the first thing that came up was, ‘Is there going to be a cheer team?’” Varsity Head Cheer Coach Mrs. Valerie Bone said.

According to Coach Bone, the flag football cheer team is a six-week program, and 17 students are signed up. The team cheers for the younger flag football team’s games on Sundays at the TKA Knights Athletic Complex field, and they had their first game on April 12th.

The Junior Knights cheer program is kindergarten through fifth grade and until recently, only consisted of sideline and competition teams. The sideline team cheers at middle school football games, as well as some elementary basketball games, and the competition team only competes.

“We’re continuing to grow and strengthen the junior cheer program by placing a bigger emphasis on skill development, team unity and creating a fun, structured experience with our eyes always on Jesus,” Head Coach of the Junior Knights Sideline Cheer Program

Ashley Evans said. “We’re also excited about expanding opportunities for younger athletes, including the addition of elementary flag football cheer this spring. I love seeing the program continue to evolve and reach more girls in our school.”

Seniors Elizabeth McWhorter and Addie Linak are assistant coaches to Coach Bone of the Junior Knights flag football cheer team.

“They’re going to come in and teach them the cheers, be on the sidelines with me, help guide them through their cheers, keep them in line and just help coach,” Coach Bone said.

McWhorter has cheered for 12 years, and Linak has cheered for over seven years; they both expressed their love for how supportive and encouraging the cheerleading environment is. 

“I am most excited to just be in the cheer world again,” Linak said. “I was sad knowing this was my last year cheering, but then I was presented with this opportunity to help the flag football cheer team, and I was very excited.”

The seniors are thrilled to get the chance to help Coach Bone coach the new flag football cheer team. Since they love to cheer so much, this was an opportunity for them to stay in the sport and pour back into the young cheerleaders.

“We had seven seniors this year and [saying] goodbye is always hard because you grow relationships, you get close to them and it’s like they’re your family,” Coach Bone said. “For them to come and coach with me, it’s full circle and cool for the kids because they’ve looked up to them.”

Many cheerleaders have stated how much they love cheer and the community it builds in their lives. 

“Cheer is really special to me because it creates such a supportive environment where everyone lifts each other up, and it teaches so many life lessons about teamwork,” McWhorter said. “I love how it gives younger girls a place to feel included and build friendships.”

McWhorter and Linak have made friends that will last a lifetime and feel cared for by their community, as many other cheerleaders do.

“I love that you can hang out with your friends,” fourth-grade cheerleader Kate McFarlane said.  “You get to share God’s Word if you have devotional, and you get to learn things. I love that the coaches teach you step-by-step and don’t just tell you what to do; they actually help you.”

For these girls, cheer is much more than just a sport.

“I love seeing kids progress; I love seeing them grow in their walk with the Lord and in every aspect of their life,” Coach Bone said. “Cheer is more than what it looks like. It’s more than just standing on the sidelines. It’s a sport, and it’s hard. So just getting them in at a young age, and loving them and seeing them grow is just a beautiful thing to me.”