TCHS competition cheer team makes history

The Temescal Canyon High School competition cheer team made history when they won first place in their division at the first-ever CIF Southern Section Competitive Cheer Championships on Jan. 12 at Colony High School in Ontario.

One week later on Jan. 19, the team won first place in their division at the CHEERpros State Championships in Costa Mesa. This was the team’s fourth consecutive win at CHEERpros. Canyon Lake Middle School cheer team, who competed earlier that morning, sat on the sidelines and cheered on their sister team.

TCHS earned a bid to compete at the USA Spirit Nationals Feb. 22-24 in Anaheim. The event draws teams from throughout the western United States and farther. More than 7,500 competitors and nearly 15,000 spectators are expected to attend the two-day event, vying for the Champion title in more than 50 different divisions.

The team is coached by Kelsie McKenzie and assistant coach Jordan Lies. Canyon Lake residents on the team include Serwaa Asafu-Adjaye, Anna Avila, Sophia Colson, Sydney Cook, Caylee Coughlin, Julise Ensign, Lauryn Frasca, Alyssa Harriman, Emma Lewis, Sydney Manning, Stephanie Maxwell, Mackenzie Riser, Abby Signorio, Emily Smith, Riley Smith and Ashley Warner. Other members include Emma Alvarado, Megan Barlow, Evie Bojorquez, Adriana Chavez, Kaitlyn Dabbs, Brooke Furuya-Smith, Zoe LaMothe, Jazzy Laster, Melanie Mizell, Alex Morteson and Sienna Pankrantz.