East Mississippi Community College cheerleaders chosen for 2013-14 school year

SCOOBA – Based on tryouts held this spring on the Scooba campus, the 18-member 2013-14 East Mississippi Community College cheerleading team has been selected by first-year EMCC cheer coach Amy Thomas.

The seven returning EMCC cheer members from last year's squad are Kayla Barnett (Kemper Academy), Morgan Corder (Starkville HS), Dawana Morgan (Heidelberg HS), Gardarius Oliver (Kemper County HS), Payton Rogers (Florence HS), Dante' Sanders (St. Aloysius HS), and Kate Timmons (Neshoba Central HS).

"It was an extremely competitive tryout with 32 participants, which made the scores very close and the final decisions that much more difficult," Thomas noted.  "We are looking forward to preparing for the upcoming school year with summer camps and competitions as we set out to proudly represent East Mississippi Community College."

Thomas begins her first season as EMCC's head cheerleading coach after serving as an assistant cheer coach last fall semester at the University of South Alabama, where she had previously competed at UCA Nationals as a senior member of South Alabama's cheerleading team in 2011.  A native of Leroy, Ala., Thomas recently earned her cosmetology degree from Remington College in Mobile, Ala., and also has vast experience coaching gymnastics.    

Along with the arrival of transfers Demarkus Johnson (Meridian CC/Meridian HS), Dees Kennedy (East Central CC/Quitman HS) and Alexia Ray (Meridian CC/Southeast Lauderdale HS), in addition to returning EMCC sophomores Rachel Clay (Kemper Academy) and Hannah Rainer (Lake HS), the 2013-14 EMCC cheerleading team will be rounded out by the incoming freshman quintet of Hunter Griffin, Dylan Huling, Kailey Lavender, Nic Moore and Rachel Salvaggio – all from Caledonia High School – as well as Olivia Carpenter by way of Dutchtown High School in Louisiana.

Earning the honor of portraying EMCC mascot Leo the Lion will be James Chavez of Quitman High School.