The Spring Hill College Cheer and Dance teams begin a pivotal year in 2015. Carrie Clayton returns as the Spirit Program Coordinator in her third year with the Badgers and she believes the teams are, "building a program … and the hard work that's put in is what it's all about."

This year the team has added four male cheerleaders, which include freshman Gus Andrews from Cullman, Ala., juniors Jacob Campos from Covington, La., and Connor Wilkins from Pelham, Ala., along with senior Ian Garrison from Mobile. Clayton says the male cheerleaders, "make our stunt sequences more dynamic and allow us to do more difficult stunts because of the strength they provide. Also, the males encourage the team and it's very positive."

The cheer team added four new recruits in the offseason. "There is a lot of talent in the new recruits," says Clayton. "We have gained a new flyer in Ashley Zamudio from Mobile along with a strong tumbler in Julie Dobbs from Mobile. Kori Wilbourn from Daphne, Ala., is an experienced base who will help us improve and Randi Evans from Semmes, Ala., is a versatile athlete who can be both a flyer and tumbler. I think the new talent has pushed the returners to work harder."

The dance team welcomes three new recruits. Clayton says the goals for the year includes the team "performing to the best of their ability and also to add enough members by next year to compete at Nationals." The new recruits strengthen the team. The newcomers include Alyssa Miles from Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., Hannah Mueller from St. Louis, Mo., and Camryn Nethken from Prairieville, La.

Returners to the dance team include sophomore Allie May from Eureka, Mo., juniors Ashley Cooper, of Mobile, Darian Price from Carencro, La., and Channi Zirlott of Irvington, Ala., along with senior Lillian Loys from Miami, Fla.

The cheer team has 12 returners including senior Paige Hymel from Slidell, La., along with juniors Shakara Austin from Gulfport, Miss., Morgan Lee from Grand Bay, Ala., Rebeca Marroquin from Hattiesburg, Miss., Taylor Moss from Grand Bay, Ala., and  Jasmin Pizer from Baton Rouge, La. The six returning sophomores include  Emma Gross from Marietta, Ga., Holly Hubenak from Austin, Texas, Madeline Limber from Dallas, Texas, Maegan Lynch from Citronelle, Ala., Summer Soltis from Cleveland, Ohio, and Paige Spivey from Semmes, Ala.

The cheer team will travel to the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) College Nationals championship in January. Clayton says her goal for the team is to make it the finals. Clayton says she's most excited about, "seeing the teams at basketball games. They've gone to camp for the first time and basketball is their true element where they get to perform." The teams will get their first opportunity to shine on Friday, November 13, when the Badger men's basketball team opens the season at home versus Shorter University at 7 p.m. in the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.

Contributed by Cierra Ferrell, SHC Class of 2019