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Cheer squads from all Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD high schools showcased their talent and dedication this season, earning impressive accolades at local, state and national competitions.
R.L. Turner High School
The Turner HS cheer team celebrated a successful football season, capped by impressive performances at the CFB Classic. They earned second place for their fight song and took third in the Band Chant Competition. The team also participated in several community events such as Halloween in the Ballpark.
Coach Wendi Lamb praised the team’s performance at UIL.
“UIL was a great opportunity for Turner Cheer to showcase all of their hard work and talent,” Lamb said. “They continuously impress me with their resilience, unselfishness and ability to work together as a team. I am so proud of them.”
Newman Smith High School
The Smith HS squad, coached by Rachel Coleman, continued its dominance at the CFB Cheer Classic, securing its sixth consecutive district title. The team also made their debut at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) Spirit of Texas competition this year.
At UIL, Smith’s fight song element placed fifth in the 5A-D1 division out of 74 teams.
“UIL is always one of our most anticipated events of the year,” Coleman said. “This opportunity allows us to compete against teams from across the state. We love the atmosphere and enjoy watching performances from teams we wouldn't normally encounter.”
In addition to their State success, Smith earned a bid to the NCA High School Nationals after placing fourth at the NCA Regional Competition. This marks the team’s third consecutive appearance at a National cheer event.
"We spend months preparing for these competitions, and it’s always thrilling to see our hard work pay off," Coleman added. "I’m incredibly proud of my team’s accomplishments this year.”
Creekview High School
Creekview’s cheer program, which has doubled in size since the 2022-23 school year, earned Band Chant Champion, first runner-up in Crowd Leading and second place overall at the CFB Classic Competition. The team also competed at the UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) Regionals for the first time in five years, placing fifth overall.
At the UIL Spirit State Championships, the squad competed against approximately 600 high schools from across the state.
“I couldn't be prouder of the incredible perseverance of this team and how they stepped up to give it their all,” said MacKenzie Binion, Creekview HS cheer coach. “Their energy was electric, and they truly left everything out on the mat. While we didn’t walk away with a trophy this time, we gained something far more valuable – a new determination and key lessons that will fuel our preparation for next year's competitive season."
Ranchview High School
The Ranchview cheerleaders excelled at the UCA camp, earning first place in sideline cheer, second place in dance and second place overall. They followed up with a third-place finish at the UCA North Texas Regional Competition. The team also delivered strong performances at UIL.
"We love to come to UIL because we get to be around some great cheerleaders from all across the state,” said Cristhina Torres Calderon, Ranchview HS cheer coach. “Building these relationships and friendships is a highlight for our team.”
At the NCA State of Texas Championship, the squad took home second place, qualifying for the NCA High School Nationals.
Vivian Field Middle School
The Vivian Field Cheerleaders participated in the Fun Cheer Sweetheart Classic competition Sunday, Feb. 2, in Denton. They have been preparing for this since December and their hard work truly paid off. The VFMS cheerleaders placed 1st overall and received the highest scores in their section against other middle schools and studio cheer teams.
They also received an invitation to compete in the Fun Cheer Championship in San Antonio on March 8-9 against the other high scoring teams in Texas.
The director of the competition commended their hard work and stated that they are a strong team with the skills to go very far in any competition they attend. Coach Gandara and Coach Smith are very proud of the girls' hard work and dedication to the team.
