36 FEBRUARY 2026 By Kylie de Best The cheer and pom teams at Arcadia, Veritas, and Xavier dedicate hours to delivering unforgettable routines for sports teams, fans, family, and competition judges alike. From early-morning practices to traveling for competitions, these teams have created more than just award-winning performances – they’ve made memories and friendships that last.  Arcadia’s pom team started their competitive season off strong with USA Regional II in December. They competed in the Varsity Advanced Small Pom and Varsity Advanced Small Jazz Divisions, placing first in jazz and second in pom, qualifying them for Nationals. On January 15-17, they competed against 30 teams in both categories. The team is looking forward to representing Arcadia at the USA Spirit Nationals in Anaheim in February. While preparing for State and Nationals, the Titans will be cheering on the Arcadia boys varsity basketball team – hoping to see them all the way to the playoffs. The athletes had the opportunity to work with choreographers Liz Blalock (former Cardinals cheerleader and current dance choreographer), Ellie Schroer (Arcadia pom alum and current Cardinals cheerleader), and Pip Schultz (current Las Vegas Raiders cheerleader). “Being a member of the team has helped me develop new skills, better time management, and school spirit,” pommie Larkyn Davies said. “I’m so grateful to the girls on my team, and Coach Bree, for making this year the greatest experience possible!” The cheer team focused on their competition routines and skills while also preparing for football, basketball, and school events. Every week, the team participates in strength training and tumbling classes. According to cheer captain Taydem Kraft, this combination of preparation, skill development, and teamwork enabled the team to excel in competitions. Varsity and JV cheer teams showed off their skills at the AIA Game Day State, where cheer showed off their game day routine and placed fourth in the D2 Large Cheer division. They also competed in a show cheer routine at the USA Arizona Regional 2 competition, placing third in the varsity Small Intermediate Show Cheer division. The JV team competed against varsity teams in the Medium Crowdleader division at both USA Arizona Regional 1 and USA Arizona Regional 2, placing third at one and sixth at two.  The Falcon spiritline was started two years ago by Veritas moms Coley Arnold and Meghan Gottfredson. While they are not competing yet, this season they are currently adding more stunting and are excited to see this program grow. “I do competitive dance, and the addition of the spiritline has now allowed me to dance and support my school at the same time,” Julia Gottfredson said. Team practices start with warmups led by the team captains. New choreography is learned, and other routines are cleaned up. So far in 2025-26, the team has learned eight sideline dances, eight cheers, and four halftime routines. In January, they debuted the new routines at the pep rally and at Hoopcoming.  Xavier Cheer has 14 National titles and 13 State Championship titles on the roster thus far. This year, they competed in various USA Spirit Regionals and AIA-sanctioned events, most recently placing first at Regionals, which earned their bid to the USA Spirit Nationals. According to Coach Kathryn Treadwell, the team is heavily committed to performing their best, with practices held four days a week. Their goals for the season are to make finals in all of their routines at both the AIA Traditional State and USA Spirit Nationals. “Practices are extremely important. The amount of dedication it takes to wake up and move your body this early in the morning is amazing, and the girls don’t miss a beat,” Treadwell said. The team is refining their traditional/show cheer routine, their all-girl stunt routine, and their Game Day/Crowdleader routines, in hopes of winning their third consecutive National title at the USA Spirit Nationals in February. Cheer teams bring high kicks, big smiles and school pride (front) Carleigh Chase, Macy Turner, Kendall Hamilton, Hazel Vynalek, Braylee Jevnick, Makenna King, Bella Luna, Jamison Jolesch. (middle) Noelle Neal, Olive Edelstein, Maggie Raddatz, Kaitie Hoffman, Daniela Ramirez, Olivia Perry, Susannah Root, Kate Callahan. (back) Isabella Villanueva, Quinn Teevan, Sophia Meyerand, Lola Smith, Natalia Sumner, Logan Stoner, Vivian Myers and Paige McKeever. PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA ZUBA (front) Jack Pals, Emily Gottfredson, Ella Dutchak, Kate Seoane, Harper Rowland, Tatum Savale. (middle) Katelyn Wilkinson, Eva Luebke, Alice Livak, Anna Jean, Ava Hickey. (back) Lana Rowland, Izzy Sinatra, Lucy Austin, Lia Karber, Zoe Pivin, Simon Burki, Ryleigh Schroeder, Julia Gottfredson, Abby Soukup and Teagan Sullivan. PHOTO COURTESY OF COLEY ARNOLD (front) Anahi De La Cruz, Leilani Peres, Chrysanthemum Oritz, Grace King, Annabella Colonna, Kyndall Bernal, Dalia Harney, Miriam Johnson. (back) Alison Rodriguez Portillo, Omniya Muhummad, Noelle Vendredi, Mariah Dukes, Shyla Clifford, Sofia Barr, Nevaeh Nelson, Ava Lee, Siena Yonushonis, Adia Walters and Grace McCarthy. PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCADIA HIGH Talia Kovac, Quinn Trost, Harper Brown, Scarlette Shapiro, Brielle Forst, Sammie Yee, Lillian Fadeley, Taylor White, Makayla Dehnert, Taydem Kraft, Avery Scovel, Sarah Salt, Xiana Ward, Lola Hampton, Marina Bertolino, Abigail Smith, Leah Layman, Charlotte Niedzialek and Penelope Luster. PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCADIA HIGH