Lady Titans Cheer Wins First Region Title In Nearly A Decade
The Mercer County Lady Titan Small Game-Day Regional Champion Cheerleading team. Front row: Leah Odell, Ally Foster, Alexis Benham, Reagan Baker, Emily Ayala, Desiree Lunsford, Kendall Maddox, Makena Langendofer. Back row: Athletic Director Donald Wayne Smith, volunteer coach Nikki Lucas, Emma Goodlett, Cora Fenwick, Addyson Foster, Mackenzie Somssich, Nariah Masterson, Ella Arnold, Savannah Hason and Head Coach Amanda Foster.
Samuel Warren
Herald Staff
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For the first time in nearly a decade, Mercer County Lady Titan Cheer is celebrating a regional title, after earning the top-placed position in the Small Game-Day section of the Region-6 competition, held on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Mason County High School.
The Titans have been perennial winners so far this season, having first won the Bullitt Bash on Saturday, Oct. 25, and followed the big win with a first-place performance one week later in Louisville. Their second win of the season came in the regional level of America’s Cheerleading Cup event hosted at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Sunday, Nov. 2.
The Lady Titans’ late season success culminated on Saturday, when the group of Emily Ayala, Reagan Baker, Alexis Benham, Cora Fenwick, Addyson Foster, Ally Foster, Emma Goodlett, Savannah Hason, Makena Langendofer, Desiree Lunsford, Kendall Maddox, Nariah Masterson, Leah Odell and Mackenzie Somssich traveled to Mason County for what could have been one of their two final competitive meets this season, but walked away having earned a trip to the state competition for the first time since 2016.
Leah Odell says she and her teammates could not be happier with the win.
“The team and I were overjoyed when it was announced that we won. The adrenaline rush was unmatched. We couldn’t stop talking about it until we got home that night. Although it was a physically exhausting day, we had so much energy and joy from winning,” said Odell, who joined the squad prior to her senior year, and knew this squad had potential from her first practice.
“I always thought our team was incredibly talented and capable, all we needed was motivation and a good attitude,” said Odell.
The Lady Titans’ win in the Small Game-Day section of the meet means their season is not over in state competition. Before they compete at the state competition scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, at George Rogers Clark High School, the Lady Titans are hard at work preparing for the regional meet on their national circuit, which will be held this Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Central Bank Center in Lexington.
Lady Titan Cheer Coach Amanda Foster has been on the cheer staff for three years, and is celebrating a regional win in her first season as head coach. Foster dedicates the Lady Titans’ success to the girls’ hard work and close bonds.
“It is truly amazing to have watched this group grow this year. This group of girls are truly the best. They have a relationship with each other like no other squad I have coached. They are always wanting to be together and team-bond, and I think that sets them apart from others. They ask to practice at times even when we don’t have practice scheduled. Their drive and dedication to the sport this year has put them in the position to win. I love these girls,” said Foster.
