For 14 years, Coach Lynn Baker has overseen the Franklin High School (FHS) Cheer Team, and a recent state championship paves the way for a national-level competitive opportunity.
“They’ve done amazing this year,” said Baker of the cheerleaders. “They’ve developed a really awesome culture … working hard; they have a strong drive to do things not just for themselves but for each other and for other people, which is amazing.”
Bringing home the North Carolina Cheerleading Coaches Association (NCCCA) Traditional Routine State Championship on Feb. 1, the team’s professionalism and kindness were noted at the competition.
“For example, before we found out we won or even before we performed, my girls were constantly complimented on their respect, how gracious they were, and who they are as people. That means the world to me,” Baker recalled.
The FHS Cheer Team’s winning season does not end with the state championship title, however. Their season will continue through the spring as they travel to various competitions.
“We are getting ready to leave to go to Nationals at Disney World. It’s the ‘superbowl’ of high school cheerleading. There will be thousands upon thousands of people there,” explained Baker.
The team competes in two different divisions, with roughly 50 to 60 teams in each division. As a small school from a rural area, FHS is, by all accounts, thrilled to participate.
“It’s like we’re running with the big dogs now,” said Baker.
Transitioning into collegiate cheering
With each passing year, high school sports teams gain new athletes, but they also have to say goodbye to graduates who turn the page and enter a new chapter beyond high school. As with many programs, FHS cheerleaders have the option to pursue their sport collegiately. After the long process of being scouted, considering various colleges and applying, and deciding whether to leave their sport at graduation or make it part of their future, an athlete is given the choice to sign an athletic contract with the college that chooses them.
This was the case with FHS senior and Cheer Team member Brianna Quiroz (above), who just signed her own contract with Limestone University in Gaffney, S.C.
“I’m very excited for the opportunities this will bring, the new things I will learn, and the connections I will make,” said Brianna. “I’ve already met some of the team when I went to visit a practice of theirs, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere and support they showed, so I’m excited to contribute to that.”
Limestone University was founded in 1845 as an independent Christian liberal arts college. Brianna has been cheering since seventh grade and originally joined the FHS team during the second semester of her freshman year. Baker has been Brianna’s coach for all four years that she has been cheering at FHS, but first met her while she was cheering for Macon Middle School.
“She’s an amazing young woman, just like the rest of them are,” said Baker, who cheered collegiately, graduating from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2008. “She’s worked hard for this. [Limestone] has a very good program; she’s also going to be part of an outstanding team.”
“My experience with the FHS Cheer Team has truly been very transformative, shaping me into who I am today,” said Brianna. “It has taught me valuable life lessons, plenty of new skills, and overall helped me become the best version of myself I could be.”
Other seniors considering cheering collegiately are Molly Ramey, who has committed to East Carolina University, and Kaylee Zachary, who will be attending Appalachian State University.
“We also have two cheerleaders, McKinzy Carver and Miriam Sanders, who have been named to the All-Region team and have been invited to try out for the All-State team,” said Baker. “All-Region is like making conference in other sports, so we’re super excited for them.”
“It’s really awesome to see the opportunities out there for the athletes, for them to experience cheering at the next level,” she said.