Edna, Ganado and Industrial cheerleading teams competed at the UIL State Meet, and everyone brought a little something home for their school.
Edna placed fifth in the 3A Division 1, Ganado won fifth place in 2A Division 1, while Industrial won fifth place in 3A Division 2.
Edna
Savannah Depine, Edna cheer advisor, said the cheerleaders competed in two rounds. In round one, the preliminary round, teams performed band chant, sideline cheer, and fight song. They advanced to the finals.
“We’ve been competing in UIL since 2017, and this is the highest placement Edna has ever had,” she proudly said.
In round two, the top 20 teams compete for a spot in the top 10 by performing a band chant, situational cheer, sideline cheer and fight song.
Depine spoke about how much heart the team put into their work every day, putting in long hours before and after school.
“They showed up early, stayed late, and kept pushing even when they were tired or sore— all while still cheering on the sideline for football, volleyball and basketball,” she said. “They sharpened their skills at UCA cheer camp and have been working on this routine since September.”
That means the cheerleaders spent months of time, effort and finding trust in each other, and the process.
Depine said their work ethic was more than just perfect routines; it was grit, commitment, and showing up for each other.
“They held themselves to a high standard and didn’t back down from the hard days,” she said. “The dedication the girls brought to the mat was something special, and it showed in the way they worked, supported one another and refused to give anything less than their best.”
The senior cheerleaders were the standouts, Co-Captains Kelly Laredo and Marianna Ackley, Emrie Bazan, Emma Quinonez, Marlee Guthrie and Marlee Holmes. They set the tone for the entire squad.
“They took pride in leaving the program better than they found it, and their commitment inspired the rest of the squad to rise to the challenge and perform with confidence and heart when it mattered most,” Depine said.
Ganado
The Ganado cheerleaders competed in band chant, cheer and fight song for their final score.
Ganado’s cheer advisor, Abby Thedford, first coached cheer last year, and praised Stephanie Kelly, who trained her during her first year. Kelly allowed Thedford to coach the varsity squad while she working with the junior varsity team.
“During the UIL season she coached me the entire time and we are all so thankful for the her time and knowledge,” she said. “We can’t wait what next year brings us.”
Kelly graduated from Ganado in 1995, and Thedford graduated from Ganado in 2013.
Thedford said as soon as the softball season was over in May of 2025, many of the girls on the squad experienced winning first place for the first time and it pushed something extra in them.
“I believe that because softball did so well, this opened the eyes of a lot of the girls and caused them to see that they can all do great at every single sport, including cheer,” she said. “The whole year I tried to hold high expectations, and we didn’t expect anything less.”
Ganado cheer began working on their routine in November of 2025 and worked up until the day before they left for the competition.
“I really appreciate how all of them came together to work as a team. They all love each other despite any differences, and because of that they were able to reach their goal. Placing fifth was a huge accomplishment for us and a cherry on top!” Industrial
In addition to placing fifth our of 56 teams, Industrial cheer placed first in band chant, and their routine consisted of said band chant, a crown-leading cheer and a fight song.
Cheer advisor Kali Ellison said every member of the team played a vital role in their success. “From our sign work, megaphones, flags, mascot, top girls, bases, and tumblers, each athlete contributed a unique skill which brought our performance to life,” she said. “Our routine only worked because every position mattered and every girl was committed to her role.”
The cheer team put in countless hours before school, on weekends, and even during holiday breaks. Ellison said the girls were consistent, disciplined, and had a willingness to push beyond their comfort zone in order to set them apart from other teams.
“Our girls demonstrated an exceptional work ethic throughout their journey to the UIL State Cheer Competition,” she added. “They showed up ready to work, encouraging one another, and refused to settle for anything less than their best.”
